In May 2025, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has announced significant delays in grant payments for many beneficiaries, affecting those reliant on the R370 Special Relief Distress (SRD) grant, as well as older persons and child support grants. This announcement comes in conjunction with a new verification process aimed at updating potentially misinterpreted information submitted to SASSA.
According to a statement from SASSA, the targeted verification process is intended for individuals using alternative identification methods or whose personal data may have changed. The agency noted that if an ID number was not properly verified or if a recipient's income status has changed, their grant could be blocked or delayed.
“This verification aims at updating misinterpreted information submitted to SASSA,” the agency explained. The affected groups include recipients of the SRD R370 Grant, Older Persons Grant (60+), and Child Support, Foster Care, and Care Dependency recipients.
For May 2025, SASSA has outlined specific payment dates: May 6 for Older Persons and War Veterans Grant, May 7 for Disability Grant and Grant-in-Aid, May 8 for Children’s Grants, and the SRD R370 payments scheduled between May 26 and 31.
In light of these delays, SASSA has provided four urgent actions for beneficiaries to help unblock their grant payments:
- Visit Your Nearest SASSA Office: Beneficiaries should bring their original ID to complete the verification process, especially if their ID details are outdated or misread.
- Fix Your ID Verification: If the application did not use the full 13-digit South African ID or contains errors, beneficiaries are advised to follow the necessary ID update steps.
- Declare Any Changed Income or Circumstances: Beneficiaries who have recently started earning an income or changed addresses must declare these changes, as they may affect grant eligibility.
- Check Your SRD Grant Status Online: Beneficiaries can visit srd.sassa.gov.za to view their payment status or submit a reconsideration request if their SRD R370 grant was declined.
Additionally, SASSA has emphasized that those experiencing delays should not rush to their local branches without first checking their status online or contacting SASSA for assistance. The agency has made available several contact options, including a toll-free number, WhatsApp, and email support.
Meanwhile, discussions regarding the SASSA pension grants have also stirred controversy. The Department of Social Development (DSD) confirmed that SASSA pension grants will not be doubled, despite growing calls for an increase. The DSD described its position as being 'between a rock and a hard place' regarding social grants, particularly in light of the still-unapproved 2025 Budget.
During a Parliamentary portfolio committee meeting on social development, SASSA pension grant advocate Riyad Isaac voiced concerns that the current grant amount is insufficient to deal with rising living costs in South Africa. "I understand pensioners are now getting R2 310 (and R2 330 for over 75s), but it’s nowhere near enough to survive," Isaac stated. He highlighted that many pensioners live below the poverty line and struggle to make ends meet, emphasizing the need for more substantial support.
In response to the calls for doubling the pension grants, DSD acting chief director Dr. Maureen Mogotsi expressed sympathy but reiterated that it would not be feasible to double the SASSA pension grants. She explained that R285 billion has already been allocated to social grants for the 2025/26 financial year, and since pension grants are already the highest among all grants, arguing for an increase is challenging.
"It (Older Person grants) already exceeds the upper poverty line. While, in contrast, the R560 SASSA Child Support Grant is below the food poverty line, even though child poverty is higher than adult poverty. You see, we are between a rock and a hard place. Who should we consider first?" Mogotsi concluded, highlighting the complex nature of grant distribution and the competing needs of various demographics.
Despite the above-inflation increases approved in April 2025, many beneficiaries of SASSA pension grants remain dissatisfied. The Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has proposed a VAT increase in 2025 to help fund the ever-increasing social welfare contributions, further complicating the discourse around social grants.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how SASSA will navigate these challenges and whether the verification process will lead to quicker resolutions for those affected by the delays. Beneficiaries are encouraged to stay informed and proactive in addressing any issues related to their grants.
For more social grant updates, individuals can visit the SASSA Resource Centre or contact SASSA directly through the provided communication channels.
