The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has urged social grants beneficiaries, who are still in possession of the old SASSA card, to urgently swap it for the new gold card or run the risk of not getting their grants in January 2019.
While significant progress has been made in migrating beneficiaries of social grants from the old SASSA cards to the new gold cards, the agency said it was concerned that some beneficiaries are still holding on to the old cards, which have reached their expiry date, and not swapping them for the new cards.
“The danger of holding on to the old card is that affected beneficiaries risk losing their benefits. We also wish to warn beneficiaries that soon we will no longer make any social grant payments into these old cards. For this reason, affected beneficiaries have to visit the nearest SASSA or post office to do a card swap,” said acting SASSA CEO Abraham Mahlangu.
Mahlangu said individual letters have also been sent to beneficiaries as part of government’s mass communication campaign.
“November is the deadline for obtaining the new SASSA cards and unfortunately there will be no extension.”
According to SASSA, just over half a million out of about 10.9 million beneficiaries are still in possession of the old SASSA cards.
Mahlangu said SASSA and the South African Post Office (SAPO) are working tirelessly to migrate the remaining beneficiaries to the new gold SASSA card.
“This is done through the nationwide government communication strategy, which uses a variety of communication platforms in order to reach all social grant beneficiaries.”
Mahlangu said they are pleased to have complied with the instructions of the Constitutional Court, particularly in ensuring that SASSA gets rid of any contractual ties with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS).
Beneficiaries who are still in possession of the old can do a card swap at their nearest SASSA or post office. They have to bring along their ID and the old card so that they can be issued with the new one. The process takes less than five minutes.
Fake SMS and WhatsApp messages
Mahlangu urged beneficiaries to ignore tempting SMSs and WhatsApp messages claiming that SASSA and some retailers are offering vouchers for unemployed people.
“This is fake news generated by criminals who want to defraud unsuspecting beneficiaries this festive season. Social grants for December will be made available from as early as 28 November 2018 at post offices, stores and ATMs to avoid the December rush. Cash pay points will, however, start paying from 3 December,” Mahlangu explained.
Beneficiaries seeking more clarity should call SASSA toll free on 0800 60 10 11 or visit SASSA news on Facebook and alternatively www.sassa.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za
Social Assistance is provided in the form of:
- Grant for older persons;
- Disability grant;
- War veterans grant;
- Care dependency grant;
- Foster child grant;
- Child support grant;
- Grant-in-aid;
- Social relief of distress.
South African Social Security Agency Grant Amounts as at 1 October 2018
- Older Persons Grant (Old age pension): R1 700.00
- Older Persons Grant (Old age pension) Beneficiary older than 75 years: R1 720.00
- Disability grant: R1 700.00
- War veterans’ grant: R1 720.00
- Grant-in-aid: R410.00
- Child support grant: R410.00
- Foster child grant: R960.00
- Care-dependency grant: R1 700.00
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