SASSA Payment Delays Hit 200,000 Beneficiaries- Biometric Issues Cause Major Setback

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SASSA Payment Delays 2025 : An unexpected decline in payment of social grants is getting to the attention of over 200,000 South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries. This month, alongside the social grants payment, biometric verification systems are resulting in persistent problems and with continued problems, the agency has indicated that the issue is linked to biometric verification software challenges.

What Went Wrong?

SASSA has indicated that the payment problems cut across all beneficiaries of various social security schemes such as the Old Age Pension, Disability Grant, Child Support Grant, and SRD R370. The central issue remains the biometric verification system that was supposed to enhance security and cut down fraudulent claims.

The system has not been free of issues. In some instances, beneficiaries have not been able to undergo successful fingerprint or facial recognition checks, which has consequently led to their payments being frozen.

Who Is Affected?

SASSA estimates that about 200,000 social grant recipients are affected by the rollback issues. Identified mostly are:

  • Older recipients who can no longer access grant payments due to a failed fingerprint scan.
  • Grant recipients in rural areas where digital verification equipment is lacking.
  • Holders of grants whose personal details are out of date in the system.

For a great number of people, the stoppage is a cause of great anxiety and financial strain, especially since the grant is the sole family income.

What Actions Are Being Taken By SASSA? 

The agency has promised the public that the issues are being addressed as a matter of urgency. SASSA is:

  • Reviewing block accounts manually to make sure that payments are released.
  • Offering alternative verification methods, such as in-person verification at SASSA offices.
  • Attempting to fix the biometric system so these problems do not happen again.

If beneficiaries believe that their payments have been delayed due to verification issues, they are advised to go to their nearest SASSA offices.

Advice For Beneficiaries

For those who are impacted, kindly take note of the following actions: 

  • Review your SASSA status either on the official website or the helpline. 
  • To avoid mismatches, make sure to update your personal details, including the ID, contact, and banking details. 
  • If your payment is still due, head over with your ID to the local SASSA office to be manually verified.

Also Read: R400 SASSA Transport Allowance 2025: Eligibility, Amount And How To Apply

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