Sassa has cautioned beneficiaries to depend solely on its official communication channels and to remain wary of individuals requesting personal information, or payment, in return for helping them with their grants. The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has issued a warning regarding a fraudulent message doing the rounds, which alleges that persons over the age of 70 living with chronic illnesses are entitled to an extra R500 added to their monthly grants. Sassa addressed the message that had been spreading across the social media platform X, stating clearly that the agency had not issued it in any way, and the agency confirmed that the message was false and did not originate from Sassa in any form.
Key Takeaways
- Fake grant claim exposed: Sassa confirmed that the viral message promising an extra R500 a month for over-70s with chronic illnesses did not come from the agency and should not be acted upon.
- Existing grant amounts unchanged: Official monthly grant figures remain as published, including R2 315 to R2 335 for the Older Persons Grant, R2 315 for the Disability, War Veterans and Care Dependency Grants, R560 for the Child Support Grant, R1 250 for the Foster Care Grant, and R370 for the SRD Grant.
- Reviews and scams need caution: Beneficiaries flagged for a review must respond within the given timeframe using official SMS notifications, and should never share personal or banking details or pay anyone claiming to assist with grants.
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The Fake Message Circulating Online
The misleading message encouraged residents who have family members over the age of 70 and who are described as “chronic patients” to apply for the supposed additional R500 by collecting a form from a Sassa office, which would then need to be completed by a doctor or a healthcare facility.
According to the message, if the patient receives treatment at a local clinic or hospital, the form would instead need to be completed at that specific facility. The message further claimed that the patient must already be on chronic medication in order to be eligible, and it urged recipients to forward the message on to family members and friends.
Scam messages of this nature often rely on urgency and the phrase “please share with family and friends” because rapid, emotional sharing helps the false information spread faster than fact-checkers or official bodies can respond to it.
Sassa was firm in stating that the message had not come from the agency and should not be acted upon or trusted by members of the public.
Sassa Grant Amounts
The agency is responsible for administering more than 19 million social grant payments on a monthly basis, covering a wide range of grant types intended to support different categories of vulnerable South Africans.
These include the following:
- Older Persons Grant
- Disability Grant
- War Veterans Grant
- Care Dependency Grant
- Foster Child Grant
- Child Support Grant
- Child Support Grant Top-Up
- Grant-in-Aid
The current Older Persons Grant for individuals between the ages of 60 and 74 stands at R2 315, whilst those aged 75 and older are entitled to receive R2 335. The Disability Grant, the War Veterans Grant and the Care Dependency Grant are all set at R2 315. The Child Support Grant amounts to R560, the Foster Care Grant is R1 250, and the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant is R370.
Current Grant Amounts At A Glance
| Grant Type | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Older Persons Grant (60 to 74 years) | R2 315 |
| Older Persons Grant (75 years and older) | R2 335 |
| Disability Grant | R2 315 |
| War Veterans Grant | R2 315 |
| Care Dependency Grant | R2 315 |
| Foster Care Grant | R1 250 |
| Child Support Grant | R560 |
| Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant | R370 |
Grant amounts are typically reviewed and adjusted once a year, usually announced alongside the national Budget Speech, so beneficiaries are encouraged to check official Sassa or National Treasury announcements around that period for any updates.
Beneficiaries Under Review Urged To Visit Sassa
Earlier in the month, Sassa reminded beneficiaries whose grants had been flagged for a review process to respond accordingly to the agency’s request and to submit the necessary supporting documentation.
The agency explained that beneficiaries who are required to undergo a review would ordinarily receive an SMS notification instructing them to report for the review process.
Sassa urged affected individuals to respond within the specified timeframe and to provide the requested information along with the relevant supporting documents.
Why Some Beneficiaries May Not Receive Notifications
Beneficiaries chosen for a review would typically be notified by SMS, informing them that they need to report in person for the process to take place. However, Sassa noted that certain beneficiaries might not receive such notifications if their cellphone numbers or other personal details on record are outdated.
Beneficiaries can help avoid missing important notifications by regularly updating their contact details, including cellphone numbers and physical addresses, directly at a local Sassa office rather than relying on third parties to do so on their behalf.
Sassa further warned that a failure to respond to a review request could lead to a grant being suspended, or allowed to lapse entirely, in line with the applicable legislation and regulations governing the grant system.
Staying Cautious Of Scams
The agency encouraged beneficiaries to place their trust only in official Sassa communication channels, and to exercise caution around individuals who request personal or banking information, or who ask for payment in exchange for helping process or approve a grant application.
Sassa also pointed out that false messages spreading across social media and other platforms have the potential to cause needless anxiety, particularly amongst vulnerable beneficiaries who may not have the means to easily verify such claims.
How To Stay Protected From Grant Scams
- Verify directly: Always confirm any grant-related announcement by contacting Sassa through its official phone lines, website or verified social media accounts before acting on it.
- Never pay for assistance: Sassa does not charge beneficiaries a fee to apply for, process or approve any grant, so any request for payment should be treated as an immediate red flag.
- Guard personal details: Avoid sharing identity numbers, banking details or SASSA card information with anyone claiming to assist with grants outside of an official Sassa office.
- Think before forwarding: Messages that urge recipients to “share with family and friends” are a common hallmark of misinformation, so it is worth pausing to verify before passing them along.
- Report suspicious messages: Beneficiaries who come across dubious grant-related messages are encouraged to report them to Sassa so the agency can issue public warnings and limit the spread of misinformation.
Conclusion
Sassa continues to face the challenge of misinformation spreading faster than it can be corrected, making it essential for beneficiaries to treat any grant-related message with a healthy dose of scepticism until it has been verified through official channels. Whether it concerns a fabricated benefit like the R500 chronic illness top-up or a genuine process such as a review notification, the safest course of action remains the same: confirm directly with Sassa, avoid sharing personal or banking information with unverified sources, and never pay anyone for assistance with a grant application. By staying alert and informed, beneficiaries can protect themselves, and their families, from falling victim to scams that prey on uncertainty and urgency.
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