Sassa Status check
Being picked for a grant review does not mean a grant will be cancelled. That is the message from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa). The agency wants to clear up confusion among beneficiaries who have received review notices.
Sassa said a review notice on its own does not change the status of a grant. It said a grant assessment and a grant review are two separate processes.
An assessment decides whether a person qualifies for a grant when they apply. A review happens after a grant has been approved. It checks whether the beneficiary still meets the requirements.
“A social grant review, on the other hand, is a process undertaken after a grant has already been approved,” Sassa said.
The agency said a person’s life can change over time. Their income, money situation, marital status or home may change. Care arrangements can change too, and for some grants, medical conditions.
“A review is therefore not a punishment, nor should it automatically be interpreted as a decision to terminate a grant,” Sassa said.
Most social grants are subject to a means test. The foster child grant is the exception. Sassa uses it to check whether people meet the income and other rules for a grant.
Sassa also responded to claims on social media about bank deposits. The claims say any money paid into a beneficiary’s account will get their grant cancelled.
The agency said it uses information from other institutions and databases to verify grants. It does this with the proper legal basis and with consent. The consent forms allow Sassa to check financial status, income and bank account details.
But Sassa said a single transaction, deposit or income record does not mean a person no longer qualifies.
“For example, the existence of money in a bank account does not mean that every amount reflected in that account is automatically treated as a permanent monthly income that disqualifies a person from receiving a grant,” it said.
Beneficiaries must tell Sassa when something changes that could affect their grant. This includes changes to income, work, marital status, home address and contact details. It also covers changes involving children, care arrangements or medical conditions.
Sassa asked beneficiaries to keep their cellphone numbers and contact details up to date. The agency uses these to send review notices and other messages about grants.
“A review is an opportunity for a beneficiary to confirm their circumstances and provide the information required to establish continued eligibility,” Sassa said.
The agency warned that a grant can be suspended if a beneficiary does not cooperate with a review. Its guidance lists this, and the outcome of a review, among the reasons a grant can be suspended.
People who receive a review notice should reply within the time given. They should send the information or documents that Sassa asks for.
Beneficiaries going through a review or certification process may be paid on the additional payment day. This will happen once the process has been completed.
For this reason, Sassa said a missed normal payment date does not mean a grant has been cancelled.
Sassa said its review and verification checks make sure grants reach people who still qualify under the law. It said the checks also protect public money and the social security system.
Source: this article is based on reporting by The Witness | Your compass in the community. Image: The Witness | Your compass in the community. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.