The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has indicated that Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant payments may have been delayed for October 2024.
Sassa pays SRD grants to millions of financially vulnerable people every month. However, concerns that these grants may not be being paid to individuals who need the money have resulted in a change to Sassa’s SRD grant payment plan.
The agency revealed that Sassa will conduct a review of SRD grant beneficiary information including their baking details to confirm their identity. These reviews may result in delays in SRD Grant payments for October 2024.
As part of Sassa’s efforts to combat identity fraud, we regularly review client statuses and banking details. Occasionally, this review may result in delays or removal from the current payment run while further verification takes place.
Sassa explained that the goal of these reviews is to ensure that only deserving individuals receive SRD grant payments.
Sassa conducts these reviews based on specific data markers to ensure the safety, and accuracy of payments to the right beneficiaries.
Upon completion of SRD grant verification checks, the agency will proceed with payment to eligible beneficiaries.
Once verification is complete, payments will be scheduled in a special subsequent run and distributed as soon as possible.
Sassa apologised for the inconvenience this may cause grant beneficiaries but stressed the importance of fraud prevention masseuse regarding the SRD grant.
We understand the inconvenience this may have caused. However, protecting your account from fraud is our priority, and these steps are taken to ensure your payments are secure.
Sassa confirmed the detection of fraud in its SRD grant payment system, finding that people who are being paid the relief grant have not applied for the grant which indicates that their information has been stolen.
The agency has called on individuals to contact Sassa to verify that their identity has not been stolen.
This call came on the back of revelations of reported widespread fraud in the SRD grant payment system.