Elderly grant recipients face a one-day delay for their July payments this month. SASSA moved the payment date from Tuesday to Wednesday July 2 due to scheduling issues. People over 75 receive R2,330 each month and those between 60 and 74 get R2,310. The agency changed its usual first Tuesday payment schedule for administrative reasons. This affects thousands of senior citizens across South Africa.
SASSA started cutting costs this year through tighter checks and reduced wasteful spending. The agency verifies each person's income and identity more carefully than before. Officials can pause grants immediately if they suspect someone doesn't qualify anymore. Recipients must visit offices with documents to prove they still meet requirements. The old system gave people three months' notice before reviews happened.
New smartphone verification began in May without warning many recipients. Advocacy groups complain that poor elderly people cannot afford smartphones or internet access. Many seniors lack smart ID cards or digital photos needed for the new system. Critics say the requirements are unfair to vulnerable citizens. Officials defend the changes as necessary cost-cutting measures.
Applications require proof of age over 60, valid South African ID, residence documents, and bank statements. Single people must earn under R8,070 monthly and have assets under R1,372,800. Married couples face limits of R16,140 monthly income and R2,745,600 in assets. About 200,000 people had to re-verify their details since May. Rejected applicants have 90 days to appeal decisions at SASSA offices.
SASSA started cutting costs this year through tighter checks and reduced wasteful spending. The agency verifies each person's income and identity more carefully than before. Officials can pause grants immediately if they suspect someone doesn't qualify anymore. Recipients must visit offices with documents to prove they still meet requirements. The old system gave people three months' notice before reviews happened.
New smartphone verification began in May without warning many recipients. Advocacy groups complain that poor elderly people cannot afford smartphones or internet access. Many seniors lack smart ID cards or digital photos needed for the new system. Critics say the requirements are unfair to vulnerable citizens. Officials defend the changes as necessary cost-cutting measures.
Applications require proof of age over 60, valid South African ID, residence documents, and bank statements. Single people must earn under R8,070 monthly and have assets under R1,372,800. Married couples face limits of R16,140 monthly income and R2,745,600 in assets. About 200,000 people had to re-verify their details since May. Rejected applicants have 90 days to appeal decisions at SASSA offices.
