The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has begun distributing October 2023 permanent grant payments to beneficiaries around the country. It is estimated that 18 million beneficiaries will be paid their grants during this week.
Sassa distributes several permanent grants to vulnerable South Africans every month. These permanent grants include the Older Persons grant, Disability grant, War Veterans grant, Child Support grant, Foster Care grant, Care Dependency Grant and the Grant-In-Aid.
All permanent Sassa grants have increased in value for October 2023.
The value of the Older Persons grant, Care Dependency grant, and Disability grant has grown to R2090 after being increased in October. The War Veterans grant has been increased to R2110.
The Foster Child grant is now R1130, and the Child Support Grant along with the Grant-in-Aid will stand at R510.
When October Grants Will Be Paid
October 2023 grant payments will be paid from Tuesday, 3 October 2023 starting with the older persons' grants. Here is the Sassa grant payment schedule for October:
- Older Persons Grant - October 3, 2023
- Disability Grant - October 4, 2023
- Children's Grants - October 5, 2023
Where To Collect Your Sassa Grant
Grant beneficiaries can collect their grants at several different payment points. These payment points include ATMs, retail stores, Post Office branches and mobile cash pay points.
Grant Payment Challenges In KwaZulu-Natal
Sassa has confirmed grant payment challenges in KwaZulu-Natal. While grants will be distributed to beneficiaries, the agency says only some grant payment channels will be available to beneficiaries in KwaZulu Natal.
Beneficiaries of social grants are urged to collect their grant payments at ATMs or retail stores in KZN. Retailers that pay social grants in KZN include Boxer, Pick N Pay, Spar, Shoprite and Usave stores.
Sassa explained that beneficiaries must avoid collecting their grants at Post Office branches as many branches may not have enough funds to pay all grant beneficiaries. This is due to cash delivery delays.
Many Post Office Branches in KwaZulu-Natal have reported that they anticipate having insufficient cash in store as a result of cash delivery delays.
Sassa reminded beneficiaries that Sassa gold cards can be used as any bank card and can be used to withdraw cash from any bank ATM.
The cards can also be used to make withdrawals over the till inside retail stores as well as make in-store purchases.
Sassa concluded that post office branches in KZN will be open and operational to assist social grant beneficiaries with PIN reset requests.
Minister Accused Of Covering Up Grant Payment Challenges
Western Cape Social Development MEC Sharna Fernandez accused Minister of Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu of providing misleading information to the public regarding the delay in the disbursement of social grants by the Sassa in September.
In September, thousands of social beneficiaries were unable to collect their social grants on the date scheduled by Sassa for Sassa grant payments. These payment challenges were attributed to system glitches with the Post Bank.
The system glitches mainly impacted beneficiaries of the Older Persons grant or pensioners who encountered difficulties in receiving their payments.
While Minister Zulu attributed these issues to technical glitches at Postbank, Fernandez asserted that Zulu needs to communicate the truth to the South African public.
Fernandez says that Postbank had received notice on 31 July that their switching service provider would not continue services due to outstanding non-payment amounting to nearly R4 million.
In response, Postbank pursued legal action to ensure service continuity. Unfortunately, the switching company declined to provide the required services.
