Latest news with #SASSA
News24
7 hours ago
- Business
- News24
R370 grants: Faulty bank account scans cause ‘catastrophic' rejections
South African street vendor and widow Brenda Mtshali is furious that an automated message on her phone means she will have to skimp on food for her six children. She is one of an estimated 10 million eligible South Africans excluded from welfare payments due to administrative obstacles, including problems with an algorithm-based income verification check, recent research has found. Mtshali, who sells tomatoes in the Soweto township, had her online application for a Social Relief from Distress (SRD) grant rejected more than half a dozen times, receiving an automated message that said "means income source identified." She said the automated means test - which scans bank accounts for a poverty line threshold of R624 - likely took into account money she was occasionally loaned by family members, which does not qualify as monthly income. But sometimes she was rejected when she had no extra funds in her bank account. She has travelled to her local branch of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) several times to query her rejection, only to be told to lodge her appeal online. "We don't want to speak to a computer or an automatic message ... it's like shouting into an empty room and only hearing your echo," Mtshali, 58, said. Responding to emailed questions, SASSA said people who were rejected could appeal online to the Department of Social Development (DSD). DSD did not respond to requests for comment. From Britain to Togo, algorithms are being used to help distribute social grants and welfare payments, but digital rights experts warn they can be inaccurate and biased in some cases. The SRD grants are vital in South Africa, where unemployment stands at about 33%, one of the highest rates in the world. "We know the extent and depths of poverty in the country," said Kelle Howson, a social scientist at the Institute for Economic Justice and co-author of the research on SRD grant exclusion. "There needs to be a move from this restrictive poverty targeting to a system that's much more inclusive," Howson said. 'Failing to reach those in need' The SRD grant programme was rolled out to support unemployed and working-age South Africans during the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. It is worth R370 per month. In April 2022, a formal means test was introduced that involved monitoring potential beneficiaries' bank accounts to see if they had more than the minimum threshold of R624. After the new means test was introduced, some 8 million beneficiaries were approved, down from 10.9 million in 2020, according to the IEJ report. This is despite there being an estimated 17 million to 18 million eligible people, the report said. The IEJ surveyed 900 people and found only 10.3% of eligible respondents received the grants - an erroneous exclusion rate of 89.7%. Eighty percent of all rejections were based on the bank verification test, which the IEJ said should only cover 24% of cases. It said all financial inflows - including child maintenance, loans, one-off donations, funds held for others - were incorrectly classified as "means." In May, the national treasury made SASSA's operating budget conditional on the means tests being applied to all social grants, including child support and pensions, the IEJ said. The Ministry of Finance in emailed comments said: "In the age of large data, it is increasingly necessary to build social security registries and cross-checks across multiple databases to avoid incorrect payments and double dipping where it is inappropriate." It also said no grant rejection is permanent, and clients are called in to "verify their income and explain the situation" to ensure public funds are appropriately spent. Applying the means tests so broadly could cause "catastrophic harm to vulnerable groups," the IEJ said, describing bank account surveillance, flawed government data and biometric profiling as "invasive" verification methods. The IEJ report also found only 5% of those surveyed had successfully appealed over two years. Data from SASSA shows 98% of 10 million appeal applications were unsuccessful in the 2024 financial year. With the SRD grant system fully online, "even if you walk into an office for help, you will be redirected to use their online system to appeal," said Kgothatso Sibanda, a helpline manager with the Black Sash human rights charity that assists grant applicants. Surveillance and survival Howson said data collection was also a rights concern as regulations stipulate that any grant applicant must allow government agencies to verify eligibility through algorithmic checks. This means government agencies can cross-check personal information with credit bureaus or banks, said Howson. "So basically you sign away all your rights to privacy and data protection by applying for a grant," she said. SASSA said its actions were governed by the Social Assistance Act and that "checks and balances are a prerequisite to ensure that we safeguard (the) public purse." The IEJ report said applicants should be allowed to submit supporting documents and means tests should be done over a longer period to rule out inconsistencies. Sibanda said "beneficiaries do not fully understand what they are consenting to" and argued that a hybrid system - online and in-person - would help people with limited digital literacy. "Yes to digitisation, but no to leaving people behind, and this system is leaving people behind," said Sibanda. In January, the High Court in Pretoria ruled that some SRD regulations were unconstitutional, but the government has lodged an appeal. In the meantime, Mtshali, her brother and her working-age children, all of whom were rejected, are stuck. They cannot afford to travel to job interviews or print their CVs. When funds are low, Mtshali feeds her family from her stock of tomatoes. "It's now just about getting food on the table, it's about survival," she said.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
SASSA grant payment dates for July 2025: What beneficiaries need to know
SASSA grant payment dates for July 2025: What beneficiaries need to know The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has confirmed the grant payment dates for July. Beneficiaries can expect to receive their grants according to this schedule: • Older Persons Grant: July 2. For South Africans aged 60 and older Disability Grant: July 3. For individuals living with disabilities Children's grants: July 4. Includes child support, foster care and care dependency grants for children under 18 (Note: The Child Support Grant might be paid on July 7, but is currently scheduled for July 4.) ALSO READ: SASSA freezes grants for 210 000 beneficiaries SASSA distributes grants through bank deposits, SASSA/Postbank cards and at selected retail outlets, including Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite and Checkers. Beneficiaries are encouraged to stay up to date on the schedule and payment options to ensure a smooth collection process. For more information, contact SASSA on 0800 60 1011 or grantenquiries@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
3 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Here's WHAT happens if you breach the SASSA income threshold
Here's a first-hand account of what grant recipients who break the SASSA income threshold must go through. At the start of May, the agency warned that any suspect/unverified accounts would not have their grants paid. And beneficiaries would be notified by text to validate their profiles in-person at a SASSA office. Initially, SASSA made this sound largely like an identity verification process. However, we're now aware that thousands of grants were overturned due to breaches of the SASSA income threshold. All grant recipient should be aware of the income and asset limits that apply to their specific monthly stipend, as these differ for Old Age and Childcare grants. It appears the three-month notice period is being ignored when it comes to SASSA income threshold breaches. Image: File Nevertheless, it appears the South African Social Security Agency is finally taking a hardline approach to enforcement. According to The Citizen , anyone who exceeds the SASSA income threshold is being forced to repay their ill-gotten money. At last count, nearly 45% of the population is receiving some form of social welfare payment each month. 4 million of these are SASSA Old-Age grants, 13 million are SASSA Child Support beneficiaries and there are nearly 10 million SRD recipients each month. Qualifying parents are allowed to receive Child Support for a newborn right up to their 18th birthday. Image: File That's a lot of people who need their SASSA income threshold and identities verified. Previously, the agency was mandated to serve a written notice of upcoming SASSA grant reviews. Moreover, you were given three months to rectify your finances to comply with any asset and income requirements. Now, however, it appears a new precedent has been set from last month onwards, in which the grant is overturned first and clients must rectify afterwards. According to reports, a child support beneficiary who breached the SASSA income threshold last month is in the process of repaying R3 360. Considering the grant pays out only R560 per month, that's more than five months' worth of assistance owing. Debit orders from your bank account or in-person visits are accepted by SASSA as forms of repayment. Image: File Reports suggest one mother suddenly stopped receiving Child Support payments in May and June. She was alerted via text to visit an agency office in-person and was told to bring a recent bank statement, payslip and copy of her and her child's ID. It came to light that she got a job in January, and her employment income had exceeded the SASSA income threshold. In turn, the agency offered her two options to repay the ill-gotten government assistance. Either pay R3 360 in full before the end of June or make the payment over six months at R560 per month – plus interest. The latter would essentially negate the job she's just secured, costing her more over six months. Tough budget constraints mean the agency is trying to reduce costs wherever it can. Image: File SASSA provides several options for beneficiaries to repay grants: In-person at any SASSA branch office. Bank transfers to SASSA regional accounts. Debit orders arranged through the beneficiaries' bank. Note that when beneficiaries cannot afford to repay funds within a certain timeframe, extensions can be approved by SASSA officials. Although interest charges on outstanding amounts will still accrue. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
SASSA reveals July 2025 grant payment dates for beneficiaries
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has confirmed the grant payment dates for July. Beneficiaries can expect to receive their grants according to this schedule: • Older Persons Grant: July 2. For South Africans aged 60 and older Disability Grant: July 3. For individuals living with disabilities Children's grants: July 4. Includes child support, foster care and care dependency grants for children under 18 (Note: The Child Support Grant might be paid on July 7, but is currently scheduled for July 4.) ALSO READ: June grants delayed amid SASSA investigation SASSA distributes grants through bank deposits, SASSA/Postbank cards and at selected retail outlets, including Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite and Checkers. Beneficiaries are encouraged to stay up to date on the schedule and payment options to ensure a smooth collection process. For more information, contact SASSA on 0800 60 1011 or grantenquiries@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
3 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
SASSA confirms July 2025 grant payment schedule
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has confirmed the grant payment dates for July. Beneficiaries can expect to receive their grants according to this schedule: • Older Persons Grant: July 2. For South Africans aged 60 and older Disability Grant: July 3. For individuals living with disabilities Children's grants: July 4. Includes child support, foster care and care dependency grants for children under 18 (Note: The Child Support Grant might be paid on July 7, but is currently scheduled for July 4.) ALSO READ: June grants delayed amid SASSA investigation SASSA distributes grants through bank deposits, SASSA/Postbank cards and at selected retail outlets, including Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite and Checkers. Beneficiaries are encouraged to stay up to date on the schedule and payment options to ensure a smooth collection process. For more information, contact SASSA on 0800 60 1011 or grantenquiries@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
