Why SASSA Grants Are Delayed & What’s Being Done Right Now?

Why is your SASSA grant payment late and what is the agency really doing about it? That question is pressing on thousands of South Africans who depend on this income for survival. In 2025, SASSA launched strict new income checks.

If your grant was flagged, here’s exactly what’s happening behind the scenes and how the agency plans to fix it.

Thousands Flagged for Undisclosed Income

Over 210,000 grant recipients across South Africa have been flagged by SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) for possibly having income they didn’t disclose. These checks are part of new compliance rules set by National Treasury, requiring the agency to run monthly verifications using banks and government databases.

“These aren’t random audits,” SASSA CEO Themba Matlou said during a media briefing. “We are under instruction to check every beneficiary’s income on an ongoing basis.”

The flagged recipients include people from all grant categories. This means older persons, people with disabilities, caregivers, and even unemployed individuals could be affected especially if their financial situation has changed since first applying.

SASSA Extends Office Hours and Hires More Staff

To deal with the surge in workload, SASSA is extending office hours and bringing in more staff. According to Brenton van Vrede, SASSA’s executive for grant operations, the agency is aiming to complete 300,000 reviews in 2025 alone.

“We’ve done reviews before,” said van Vrede. “But this year the volume is unprecedented.”

The agency is also encouraging those who were flagged to visit SASSA offices in person for identity and income verification. However, some recipients have reported not receiving any SMS notification, largely due to changed contact numbers that were not updated in the SASSA system.

Fourth Payment Date Introduced to Ease Delays

SASSA typically processes grants over a three-day cycle. But to reduce confusion and avoid disrupting general disbursements, the agency introduced a “fourth payment date”.

“Those under review aren’t suspended,” Matlou clarified. “They’ll just be paid a few days later than the standard dates.”

This fourth date acts as a signal letting the recipient know something in their file needs checking. If your payment doesn’t arrive on the usual day, it might mean your grant is under review. That’s your cue to contact your nearest SASSA office immediately.

“It’s a way to prevent people from finding out too late that something is wrong,” said van Vrede. “The goal is to catch issues earlier before the grant gets suspended.”

What Happens if You Don’t Respond?

Matlou warned that if a flagged recipient fails to come forward within three months of being notified, their grant may lapse.

“Some may be legitimate cases of fraud. Others may simply no longer qualify,” Matlou explained. “But many could be people who just haven’t updated their contact info or don’t know they’ve been flagged.”

To prevent such lapses, SASSA is emphasizing communication and has already sent over 140,000 SMS notifications. Beneficiaries are urged to check their contact details, visit their local office, or use upcoming self-verification tools.

New Tech Tools: Self-Service Options on the Way

SASSA is piloting self-service options, including biometric verification kiosks and mobile verification tools. These tools will allow recipients to scan their face and link their ID to Home Affairs data, streamlining the identity confirmation process.

However, this system has limits. It only works with Smart ID cards leaving out many people who still use green barcoded IDs or don’t have digital records.

Kelle Howston from the Universal Basic Income Coalition supports the idea of easier access but remains concerned. “There are still barriers in SASSA’s systems that could block legitimate beneficiaries from verifying themselves,” she said.

SASSA’s Commitment to Beneficiaries

Matlou ended the press briefing with a clear message:
“We take our responsibility seriously. We will not allow technical or administrative issues to stop vulnerable South Africans from getting the support they deserve.”

Despite the new systems and stricter checks, Matlou insists no grant has been cancelled yet. But failure to act when flagged could lead to suspension. For now, the message is simple: If you’ve been contacted, respond fast. And if your payment is late, check if you’ve been flagged.

Key Takeaway

SASSA is not freezing grants without cause. But under Treasury rules, it must verify all income regularly. If you’re affected, act quickly. The agency is working to reduce long queues, streamline checks, and minimize confusion but you must keep your contact details updated and cooperate with the review process to avoid losing access to your grant.