With the setting in October 2025, a wave of anxiety set in among thousands of South Africans relying on SASSA grants due to circulating rumors concerning full cancellation of payments and suspensions of benefits. However, the government alleges that there has been no full cancellation of any social grants. It rather said that there have been tighter eligibility tests, and with constant verification, some beneficiaries remain under possible suspension of payment.
Background regarding Why Grants Are Under Review by SASSA
SASSA undertook a nation-wide review in order to ensure that social grants go only to those South Africans who merit them. According to SASSA, the process is just a normal compliance check put in place to prevent fraud and ensure that money goes to those in need. Certain beneficiaries never updated their information or disregarded notices requesting their cooperation in the reviews; hence, SASSA was forced to suspend payments to them temporarily. The agency made it clear that they are not canceling the grants; rather, they are suspending them until such documents are submitted. The review applies to several grants such as Old Age, Disability, and Child Support.
Payments mostly subjected to being discontinued
SASSA might never have declared any category of payments as discontinued, though indeed, many of them could be under threat by October 2025.
- SRD R370 Grant (Temporary Suspension):The SRD Grant here should be under close supervision. Beneficiaries who now have income of anything higher than the qualifying threshold of R624 per month will no longer remain eligible. Such payments could halt starting from October for those who failed to reconfirm their applications or update their particulars with respect to the grant by the 30th of September.
- Disability and Care Dependency Grants: Grants are reviewed when there is a change in the medical condition of the beneficiary. If a medical review is conducted by SASSA and finds an improvement in the health status of a person, the grant will be ceased.
- Grants Under Investigation for Fraud: Payments would be suspended indefinitely as soon as it is concluded that such are tied to duplicate applications, false income declarations, or beneficiaries whose recipients are in fact deceased but still remain in the system.
- Grants with Outdated Particulars: Beneficiaries who failed to update details such as their bank account or home addressor ID documents may face temporary cuts until verification is completed.
The Government’s Stand
According to the Department of Social Development, mass suspension of grants is not considered at the moment; however, grant recipients should strive to cooperate with requests for review. The authorities say this is to keep things transparent and ensure that R250 billion irregularly is not channeled out of the grant budget. Government representatives state that once a beneficiary has undergone review and has been found eligible, the payments will be restored, including payments due from the intervening period from the date of the review.
What Beneficiaries Must Do
Beneficiaries should:
- Present multiple copies of all requested documents, which include proof of income, bank statement, and an updated ID.
- Once identified for review, they should report immediately to the local SASSA offices.
- Update their contact details and banking information to avoid delays in the processing.
- Regularly check the official SASSA website for updates or contact the hotline.
also read: Two SASSA Payments In October 2025: Eligibility Rules & Exact Payout Dates