At a Glance
- SASSA urges disability grant applicants to book assessments via its online platform.
- Online booking eases application but doesn’t replace in-person visits for some.
- Over 210,000 suspected double-dippers face payment delays amid fraud investigations.
Shortly after identifying over 210,000 suspected “double-dippers” — social grant recipients who may be earning a second income — the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is urging all applicants for the disability grant to use its online platform to book disability-related assessments.
In a statement posted on its website, and signed by Senzeni Ngubeni, the agency’s spokesperson in Mpumalanga, SASSA said the platform aims to make the process easier and more convenient. Booking assessments online can help applicants avoid long queues, save on travel costs, and manage the process from home.
Online system doesn’t replace office visits
The agency stressed that this online service doesn’t replace in-person visits. Those without internet access can, and should, visit their nearest SASSA office to schedule an assessment.
After the medical assessment, the rest of the application can be completed and submitted online. SASSA reminded applicants that all documents must be certified, accurate, and no older than six months.
The agency also urged the public to be careful about scams. Applicants should never share their personal details with strangers or unverified sources. Anyone struggling with the online system is advised to go straight to a SASSA office for help.
Who Qualifies for South Africa’s Grant?
To qualify for the disability grant, applicants must be South African citizens, permanent residents, or recognized refugees living in the country.
They must be between the ages of 18 and 59 and have a medical report confirming their disability, along with a referral from a healthcare provider. SASSA also conducts a means test to determine financial eligibility for both the applicant and their spouse.
Applicants cannot be receiving another social grant in their own name or living in a state-funded institution.
A valid 13-digit barcoded ID is needed for both the applicant and their spouse. If someone doesn’t have an ID or birth certificate, SASSA may accept alternative forms of identification.
Grant payments delayed amid fraud checks
Established in April 2005, SASSA oversees the distribution of social grants in South Africa on behalf of the Department of Social Development. Though it works closely with the department and falls under the Ministry of Social Development, the agency operates independently.
More recently, SASSA has come under renewed scrutiny. In collaboration with registered credit bureaus, the agency delayed June payments to more than 210,000 grant recipients who appeared to have undeclared sources of income.
Paseka Letsatsi, another SASSA spokesperson, said those affected need to visit their nearest office for a grant review within 30 days of receiving notification, as required under regulation 30 of the Social Assistance Act.
Adding to the concerns, two students from Stellenbosch University recently exposed widespread fraud involving youth ID numbers being used to collect SASSA’s SRD R370 ($20) grants. In a campus survey of 60 people, 56 were found to have fraudulent SRD applications.
They also tested ID numbers of people born in February 2005 and discovered a 91 percent application rate—far higher than the official youth unemployment rate of 60 percent.
