The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has notified social grant recipients about the introduction of a fourth payment day for those flagged for grant checks or eLife certification. The agency warns that non-compliance may lead to payment suspension.
Requirements for Grant Recipients
SASSA stated that recipients who received their benefits on July 7—the fourth payment day in July—are required to visit the nearest SASSA office to complete the verification process and prevent disruptions in future payments.
Explanations from a SASSA Representative
The national representative of SASSA, Paseka Letsatsi, noted that the agency observed some recipients were still unaware of the designated additional payment day. He commented: 'The agency noted that some recipients are still unfamiliar with the fourth payment day and often worry when their benefit is not paid within the usual three-day payment cycle, even if they received a notification.'
Letsatsi explained that SASSA sends mass SMS notifications to recipients selected for grant checks and eLife certification before scheduling their payments for the fourth day. He gave an example from July: 'This month, for instance, we paid old age grants on July 2, disability grants on July 3, and child grants on July 6. Recipients who still required social grant verification or eLife certification received payment on July 7, which we call the fourth payment day.'
Calls to Recipients
SASSA strongly urged recipients to respond promptly to contact regarding checks and to keep their personal details up to date. Letsatsi added: 'We would also like to ask our recipients to inform SASSA of any changes in contact details or residential addresses, as we use the information collected when a person first applied for the benefit in our system.'
Purpose of Checks and New Dates
According to SASSA, social grant checks and eLife certification are conducted in accordance with the Social Assistance Act and aim to confirm the continued eligibility of grant recipients. This process also helps exclude payments to deceased or ineligible persons, identify fraud, and ensure that public funds reach qualified recipients. The agency emphasized that regular checks play a key role in maintaining the integrity of the social assistance system while improving communication and service delivery through recipient data updates.
SASSA confirmed the following grant payment dates for August: Old Age Grants—Tuesday, August 4; Disability Grants—Wednesday, August 5; Child Grants—Thursday, August 6; Fourth Payment Day for recipients participating in checks—Friday, August 7. The agency stated its commitment to paying benefits to all eligible recipients while strengthening oversight measures to ensure the sustainability and reliability of the social security system.
