The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has flagged some Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant applications due to potential identity theft or fraud. Consequently, these payments will be suspended until beneficiaries complete a new online biometric verification process.
This biometric system aims to reduce social grant fraud but has raised concerns among advocacy groups about beneficiaries’ access to their grants.
Sassa clarified that biometric verification is mandatory for SRD grant applicants who need to update mobile numbers, banking details, or are suspected of identity theft. This process requires a smartphone or computer with a good camera, stable internet, and proper lighting. Detailed instructions will be provided by Sassa.
If beneficiaries fail to complete the biometric verification, their grants may be suspended.
Usually, Sassa completes SRD grant eligibility checks at the end of the month. However, the late flagging of some applications has raised concerns that many beneficiaries will not receive their payments this month while navigating the verification process.
Dr. Kelle Howson, a senior researcher at the Universal Basic Income Coalition, said that the flagging came late in the June payment cycle, risking delayed payments for beneficiaries. Missing a grant payment could be disastrous for individuals relying on it for basic needs like food.
SRD grant beneficiaries are people who are living well below the food poverty line, people who rely on these, what are quite meagre entitlements, simply to avoid starvation.
Howson highlighted a broader issue related to recent amendments by the Department of Social Development (DSD) allowing Sassa to cancel payments pending for too long. Beneficiaries without access to a camera-enabled cell phone risk having their payments cancelled even if previously approved.
If a beneficiary cannot go through these steps because they don't have a cellphone, they don’t have a camera-enabled cell phone, they risk having their payments cancelled even if they were previously approved.
Sassa assures that this biometric verification is a one-time requirement for unblocking accounts or making high-risk changes and will not affect other grant payments. The agency is committed to client safety and minimising disruption for unaffected clients.
