Skip to content

South Africa's Social Assistance Scheme (SASSA) and the functionality of social grants explained.

Monthly financial aid distributed to over 26 million South Africans through SASSA, alleviating poverty and offering assistance to the nation's most disadvantaged citizens.

Social Assistance South Africa (SASSA) is the organization responsible for dispensing social grants...
Social Assistance South Africa (SASSA) is the organization responsible for dispensing social grants to South African citizens in need. These grants are financial aids provided to help alleviate poverty and improve the living standards of those who are deemed vulnerable. The way they operate typically involves recipients receiving regular payments electronically, either through bank transfers or debit cards issued by SASSA.

South Africa's Social Assistance Scheme (SASSA) and the functionality of social grants explained.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), established in 2005 by the South African government, plays a crucial role in providing financial aid to millions of citizens. In this article, we will discuss various aspects of SASSA grants, including application, eligibility, banking details update, and payment dates.

Beneficiaries of SASSA grants have the convenience of updating their banking details online, with the exception of those on permanent grants who must visit a SASSA office. To change banking details, SRD beneficiaries can do so online through the SASSA Services Portal, while permanent grant beneficiaries must go to a SASSA office.

The SRD grant, also known as the SASSA R370 grant, was first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The application process for the SRD grant can only be done online through the official SRD website. To qualify for the SRD grant, an individual must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, refugee, asylum seeker, or special permit holder living in South Africa, between 18 and 60 years old, unemployed, not receiving any other SASSA grant, UIF payments, or NSFAS funding, and pass the means test.

SASSA offers different grants depending on the individual's situation. In 2025, the Child Support Grant is R560 per child, and the Older Person's Grant is R2,315 per month for beneficiaries under 75, and R2,335 for those aged 75 and older.

After applying for a SASSA grant, individuals can check their status using various official methods such as the SRD website, WhatsApp, USSD code, SASSA Call Centre, or Moya App.

In 2025, SASSA pays 26-million grants monthly. The October 2025 payment dates for SASSA grants are as follows: Older Persons' Grant on 2 October, Disability Grant on 3 October, and all other grants (including Child Support) on 6 October.

It's important to note that the search results do not provide information about the name of the government official or person who was the head of SASSA in 2025.

Should beneficiaries no longer have access to their registered phone number, they can update their phone number for SASSA by either doing so online through the SASSA Services Portal or in person at a SASSA office.

In conclusion, SASSA continues to provide essential financial aid to millions of South Africans, with various grants available depending on individual circumstances. The application process and status check can be done online, while banking details updates may require a visit to a SASSA office depending on the type of grant. The SRD grant remains at R370 per month and can only be applied for online.

Read also:

Latest