Latest news with #DisabilityGrant
The Citizen
a day ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Sassa warns grant recipients of ‘Ubuntu Life' misusing name, logo
The agency has urged South Africans to remain vigilant and report any fraudulent activities. Sassa is expected to disburse August social grants to beneficiaries in the first week of August. Picture: The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has issued a stern warning to the public about 'Ubuntu Life', which it says is unlawfully using Sassa's name, logo, and brand to mislead beneficiaries. Sassa has unequivocally distanced itself from any association with this entity and refutes any claims or suggestions that Ubuntu Life is affiliated with, endorsed by, or contracted by the agency in any capacity. Precaution The agency has urged South Africans to remain vigilant and report any fraudulent activities. Sassa CEO, Themba Matlou, has urged the public not to engage with any individuals or organisations that claim to operate on behalf of the agency without official verification. 'Sassa does not outsource grant applications or beneficiary services to private companies such as Ubuntu Life or any other company for that matter. 'We appeal to the members of the public, especially our beneficiaries, not to fall prey to these fraudulent acts committed in Sassa's name. Please exercise vigilance and verify the authenticity of such acts with Sassa before partaking in them,' emphasised Matlou. ALSO READ: Sassa cracks down on beneficiaries flagged for not disclosing income No fees Matlou further reiterated that Sassa does not charge any fees for social grant services, as these services are provided free of charge by employed Sassa officials. 'Sassa's legal team has taken steps to initiate formal action against the unlawful use of its brand and will pursue all legal avenues to protect the integrity of its services and the safety of South African social grant beneficiaries 'All official Sassa communications come via its official platforms and service points. If anyone has been approached or misled by Ubuntu Life or any similar entity, they are urged to report the matter immediately to the nearest South African Police Service or call Sassa on its toll-free number, 0800 60 10 11 or email [email protected],' Matlou said. August grants Meanwhile, Sassa is expected to disburse August social grants to beneficiaries in the first week of August. The agency administers more than 19 million grant payments, including the Older Persons Grant, Disability Grant, War Veterans Grant, Care Dependency Grant, Foster Child Grant, Child Support Grant, Child Support Grant Top-Up, and Grant-in-Aid. Older Persons Grant – Tuesday, 5 August 2025 Disability Grant – Wednesday, 6 August 2025 Children's Grants – Thursday, 7 August 2025 Sassa grant amounts: Old Age (60-74 years) and Disability grants – R2 315; Old Age (75+ years) Grant – R2 335; War Veterans Grant – R2 315; Care Dependency Grant – R2 315; Child Support Grant – R560; Foster Care Grant – R1 250; SRD Grant – R370 ALSO READ: More than 200 000 will experience Sassa grant delays — here's why
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Sassa grants: Here are the August payment dates and amounts
Sassa has released its payment schedule for August 2025, with payments set to begin on 5 August. The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) will disburse August social grants to beneficiaries in the first week of August The agency administers more than 19 million grant payments, including the Older Persons' Pension Grant, Disability Grant, War Veterans Grant, Care Dependency Grant, Foster Child Grant, Child Support Grant, Child Support Grant Top-Up, and Grant-in-Aid. Sassa grant payment dates: Older Persons Grant – Tuesday, 5 August 2025 Disability Grant – Wednesday, 6 August 2025 Children's Grants – Thursday, 7 August 2025 Sassa grant amounts: Old Age (60-74 years) and Disability grants – R2 315; Old Age (75+ years) Grant – R2 335; War Veterans Grant – R2 315; Care Dependency Grant – R2 315; Child Support Grant – R560; Foster Care Grant – R1 250; SRD Grant – R370 ALSO READ: No social grants have been suspended, says Sassa Sassa fires off grant suspension warning Speaking during a media briefing on Monday, Sassa CEO Themba Matlou said that while no grants have been suspended yet, the agency will not hesitate to lapse grants for beneficiaries who ignore review notices. Matlou explained that Sassa is legally required to provide beneficiaries with three months' notice before suspending their grants. However, those who fail to respond to review notices face the prospect of having their grants lapse permanently. 'We'll have to lapse the grant because it could be that some of them are either potential fraudulent cases, some of them don't deserve to get it,' Matlou said. He further added that the review process is essential for maintaining the integrity of the social assistance system, particularly as the agency works with other institutions to identify beneficiaries who may no longer qualify for grants. The CEO noted that Sassa must provide quarterly reports to the National Treasury on review progress, which has significantly elevated the agency's workload. NOW READ: Under review: Sassa fires off grant suspension warning
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Bank surveillance and poverty risk: UBIC warns of devastating impact on Sassa beneficiaries
Since 2022, UBIC reports that 90% of SRD grant exclusions have been erroneous. The Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) has issued an urgent warning to parliament that new National Treasury budget conditions for the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) could 'plunge millions of South Africa's most vulnerable into deeper poverty and exclusion'. In a letter to parliament's portfolio committee on social development dated 9 June 2025, UBIC outlined how Treasury's requirements would subject beneficiaries of major social grants to intrusive verification systems that threaten constitutional rights and essential social protections. The coalition warns that the measures could affect up to 6 million children and 3.5 million caregivers, along with potentially millions of seniors and persons with disabilities, through systems that have already proven fundamentally flawed in their application to other grants. Mass surveillance and constitutional violations According to the coalition, the new conditions, disclosed by Sassa and the Department of Social Development in a parliamentary presentation on 23 April 2025, would apply extensive verification systems across all major grants, including the Child Support Grant, Old Age Grant, Disability Grant and Care Dependency Grant. UBIC warned in its letter to the committee that these measures 'will have devastating consequences for babies, children, caregivers (mostly women), older persons, and people with disabilities. They amount to a mass violation of constitutional rights and roll back access to essential social protections.' As UBIC stated in its submission, 'many of these methods – first used to administer the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, have been found to be unconstitutional by the High Court and have already wrongly excluded millions from accessing their entitlements.' ALSO READ: Basic Income Grant implementation postponed again Flawed systems extended despite court findings There are approximately 9.2 million Sassa SRD recipients. Since 2022, UBIC reports that 90% of SRD grant exclusions have been erroneous, yet Treasury is now requiring Sassa to extend these same flawed systems to all major social grants. The coalition points to this track record as evidence that the new measures will create widespread wrongful exclusions rather than genuine fraud prevention. It says the verification systems include invasive monthly bank surveillance combined with undisclosed credit bureau data, cross-referencing with inaccurate government databases, including UIF and Nsfas, profiling beneficiaries for fraud risk, and mandatory biometric verification requirements. Particularly concerning to UBIC is a proposed reduction in the Child Support Grant's means test threshold, which they argue is unconscionable given that 70% of South African children live in poverty. Mass suspensions without due process The coalition warns that the new system would enable mass suspension of beneficiaries without notice, placing the burden on individuals to disprove blanket allegations of fraud rather than requiring Sassa to prove wrongdoing before suspending benefits. This approach represents a fundamental shift in due process that could leave vulnerable families without essential support while they navigate complex bureaucratic processes to restore their benefits. ALSO READ: Themba Matlou officially new Sassa's CEO: Here's what we know Transparency crisis and hidden data UBIC also flagged a growing transparency crisis, noting that Sassa has ceased publishing SRD grant data despite the program being the third-largest item in the country's social assistance budget. In a media statement dated 27 May 2025, Sassa revealed that 210,000 beneficiaries have been placed under review based on credit bureau data, with grants potentially recoverable as debt. The coalition argues this lack of transparency makes it impossible for civil society and Parliament to properly oversee the administration of social grants and protect beneficiaries' rights. Basic income support policy concerns UBIC's submission comes as the Department of Social Development and Treasury prepare to finalise a long-awaited Basic Income Support policy. The coalition believes this policy has undergone substantial revisions since the last public consultations in March 2023 and is calling for the draft to be made public for consultation before it reaches Cabinet. The coalition emphasised that 'this is not just about numbers—it's about people's dignity, survival and constitutional rights.' They urged 'the Committee to act swiftly, hold National Treasury accountable, demand transparency and open the BIS policy to public scrutiny.' ALSO READ: Sassa SRD grant to be 'converted' to basic income grant – Mbalula says [VIDEO] Parliamentary action demanded UBIC has made specific demands to parliament's portfolio committee on social development, calling for immediate action to halt the implementation of Treasury's conditions and ensure proper democratic oversight of social grant reforms. The coalition is requesting that parliament demand the public release of the Basic Income Support policy draft before Cabinet submission, ensure public consultation on all grant-related reforms, and require Sassa to provide full, disaggregated SRD grant data. UBIC has also requested the opportunity to formally present to the committee on these urgent issues, emphasising the need for swift parliamentary intervention to protect vulnerable South Africans from further exclusion from social support systems. NOW READ: Pensioners desperate for clarity after not receiving Sassa grants in June
The South African
14-05-2025
- General
- The South African
Missed your SASSA grant review? Here's what you can do next
Have you missed your SASSA grant review? That can lead to your grant being suspended or even cancelled. However, if unforeseeable circumstances arise and you can't make your appointment, there are steps you can take to fix things. Here's what you need to do. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) periodically schedules grant reviews so the agency can check if you still meet the eligibility criteria for the grant you are receiving. This is important because the agency must ensure the grant is reaching South Africans who need it. Reasons SASSA may schedule a grant review include: Your financial circumstances may have changed. SASSA needs to verify beneficiaries in order to root out fraudulent grantees. Certain grants, including the Disability Grant, require ongoing review. The Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals, which resolves disputes about grants, may require SASSA to review an application. SASSA grant reviews follow a particular process. The agency will notify you 90 days in advance of the date of your review and tell you which documents you need to bring with you. Missing a SASSA grant review can lead to your grant being suspended or even cancelled. Sometimes life happens, and perhaps you have a good reason for why you were unable to make your SASSA grant review. You should inform the agency if this is the case and find another appointment. If your grant is suspended, you must submit the required documents within 30 days of the suspension. If SASSA completes the review and determines you still qualify, the agency will reinstate the grant from the date of suspension. However, if your grant remains suspended or cancelled, you can appeal. In this case, make sure you contact the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals within 90 days. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
