The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has implemented a national identity verification process aimed at ensuring that only qualifying individuals within South Africa receive social grants. As a result, some beneficiaries experienced a suspension of their May 2025 grant payments.
The verification process targets the following groups:
- Beneficiaries whose ID numbers are not reflected in the Sassa system
- Individuals with multiple bank accounts linked to their profile
- Beneficiaries flagged during a bulk means test
If you fall into one of these categories, you will not receive your May 2025 social grant unless you complete the verification process.
What To Do If You Didn't Receive Your May 2025 Grant
Sassa advises affected beneficiaries to visit their nearest Sassa office as soon as possible to verify their identity. During this visit:
- Your identity will be reviewed
- Your 13-digit ID number will be captured into the Sassa system
Failure to comply could result in the suspension or even the lapsing of your grant.
Beneficiaries who fail to come forward during this process may have their social grants suspended, and if they continue not to respond, more drastic actions, such as the lapsing of their grant, will be applied.
Why Sassa Is Conducting These Reviews
Sassa conducts periodic reviews when there is reason to believe a beneficiary's circumstances may have changed. These include changes in:
- Marital status
- Financial situation
- Living conditions
A person who once qualified for a grant may no longer be eligible due to these changes.
Improving System Integrity and Preventing Fraud
According to Sassa, these identity checks are part of broader efforts to:
- Enhance grant payment security
- Improve the integrity of Sassa’s systems
- Prevent fraudulent activities such as identity misrepresentation
