No social grants have been suspended, says Sassa

CLAIMS that thousands of social grants have been suspended are “categorically false”, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has said, urging recipients not to panic and to participate in an ongoing national grant review process.

The review, which targets beneficiaries flagged for possibly having undeclared income, has led to short-term delays in some payments — but no permanent suspensions.

“There has been no suspension of social grants,” Sassa said in a statement issued on July 7, “but during the review process, grants get delayed momentarily until a beneficiary has successfully completed the review process.”

According to Sassa, the review is not meant to penalise anyone but is required by law to ensure that recipients are still eligible and that taxpayers’ money is not abused. In particular, it helps the agency detect issues such as grants still being paid to deceased persons or individuals with new employment who failed to update their status.

“The review of social grants helps identify beneficiaries who may no longer qualify due to changes in financial, medical, or legal circumstances and serves as a confirmation of life or existence, ensuring that grants are not paid out to deceased individuals or those who have relocated without updating their records,” said Sassa CEO Themba Matlou.

“More importantly, reviews allow Sassa to detect and prevent cases where individuals continue receiving grants despite being listed on payroll systems of other entities (public or private).”

Why your grant might be flagged

According to Sassa, recipients are legally obligated to disclose all sources of income when they first apply for a grant and to inform the agency of any changes in their financial situation afterwards. Failure to do so may result in “corrective action”.

Matlou emphasised that the review process is part of efforts to clean up the system and protect legitimate beneficiaries.

“Sassa is undertaking the social grants review process for the better good of the government fiscus, thus ensuring that grants are paid to eligible beneficiaries and all the fraudulent elements are rooted out,” said Matlou.

What you need to do

If your grant has been delayed or flagged for review, you’re urged to visit your nearest Sassa office with the following documents:

• South African ID (13-digit barcoded ID or smart ID card)
• Proof of income (e.g. payslips, pension slips, or affidavits if unemployed)
• Three months' bank statements (for all active accounts)
• Proof of residence
• Medical referral report (for disability or care dependency grants)
• Marriage certificate, divorce decree, or death certificate (where applicable)
• Any relevant supporting documents (e.g. birth certificates for Child Support Grants, school attendance for Foster Care Grants)

If you are bedridden or physically unable to go to a Sassa office, a procurator can be appointed to act on your behalf — contact your local office for assistance.

Sassa has acknowledged the strain on local offices and says it is working to improve capacity to handle the volume of reviews. Plans are also under way to automate the process with online self-service options.

Don’t ignore official communication

Beneficiaries are strongly advised to respond to any communication from Sassa regarding a review. Ignoring review notices could result in future payments being delayed, suspended, or even terminated. Legal action could also follow.

“Failure to respond to any official communication from the Agency requesting you to come forward may result in delays in future payments, leading to a suspension or lapsing of the beneficiary’s grant and legal proceedings may be instituted,” Sassa warned.

Know the limits: Latest means test thresholds

Here are the updated asset and income thresholds (as of April 2025) used to determine eligibility for various grants:

For full details, visit www.sassa.gov.za or call the toll-free line at 0800 60 10 11.

If your grant has been delayed, don’t panic — act. Sassa says the sooner you complete the review, the sooner your payments will resume.