Changes in social grant payment dates
The agency said the decision was made following consultations with National Treasury, the South African Post Office, the Banking Association SA, retailers and the South African Consumer Goods Council
PENSIONERS and people with disability will from next month receive their social grants on the fourth day of the month to protect them from long month-end queues at pay points.
All other grants will be paid on the sixth day of the month.
‘The grant payments for April was brought forward to 30 March and the first two days were dedicated to people with disabilities and older persons to ensure compliance with the State of Disaster requirements,’ said South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi.
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‘Unfortunately impatient child support grant beneficiaries could not wait for 1 April and also descended on pay points on these days.
‘This posed all sorts of health challenges and it became difficult at some stores and ATMs to maintain social distancing,’
The agency said the decision was made following consultations with National Treasury, the South African Post Office, the Banking Association SA, retailers and the South African Consumer Goods Council.
‘What emerged during the consultations was that people with disabilities and the aged needed to be protected from the month-end rush at payment outlets, and therefore payments need to be staggered in such a way that these categories of beneficiaries receive their grants before others.
‘To effect this SASSA will make use of two payment files, the first covering the aged and the disabled, while the second payment file will cover all other grant types.
‘Some older persons use one card to also receive child support and foster child grants. In such cases they will be able to access all linked grants from the 4th of every month,’ Letsatsi said in a statement.
SASSA CEO Busisiwe Memela reminded beneficiaries that their cards can be used as debit cards to pay for purchases.
‘Money deposited into your account is safe and will not be taken back if not used. There is no need to rush to withdraw cash on the first day we deposit it into your account.’
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