If you’re one of the millions relying on SASSA grants every month, there’s an important change coming your way.
Starting in August 2025, a new fourth payment date is being introduced—and it’s directly tied to a growing wave of grant reviews that’s frustrating many recipients across South Africa.
Surprise Reviews Leave Many Without Their Grants
Over the past few months, thousands of SASSA beneficiaries have found themselves caught off guard by sudden demands to verify their income or identity—without any warning.
While it was initially explained as part of a biometric identity check, the truth is becoming clearer: SASSA is also cracking down on anyone whose income seems suspicious or over the eligibility threshold.
This means a lot of people—many of whom depend entirely on their grants—have seen payments paused as they’re asked to visit a SASSA office in person to sort it out.
And that’s where the chaos starts.
Pressure Mounts as Minister Tolashe Faces Backlash
With South Africa’s economy under strain and National Treasury pushing for better spending, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and SASSA officials are under pressure to clean house.
The problem? The process is messy, slow, and leaving vulnerable people without support.
Previously, SASSA had to give beneficiaries three months’ notice before conducting any review.
That rule now seems to have been thrown out the window, with a tougher, faster approach being used for those suspected of exceeding income or asset limits.
Here’s When You’ll Be Paid in August 2025
SASSA still plans to stick to its usual three-day payment cycle—but now, there’s a fourth date added for those undergoing reviews:
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Old Age Grants – Tuesday, 5 August 2025
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Disability Grants – Wednesday, 6 August 2025
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Child Support Grants – Thursday, 7 August 2025
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New Fourth Payment Date (for reviewed clients only) – Friday, 8 August 2025
So if you’re flagged for review, expect your grant a few days later than usual, but still within the same month.
SASSA Explains the Reason Behind These Changes
SASSA CEO Themba Matlou has stepped forward to defend the agency’s actions.
He says this review process is necessary to stop fraud and make sure the grants go to those who truly qualify.
Matlou also acknowledges the frustration and is promising improvements: longer office hours, more staff, and better systems to help clear the growing review backlog.
Quarter of a Million Grants Under Scrutiny
So far, around 250,000 SASSA beneficiaries have been flagged for review based on stricter income verification.
The agency is now working with banks, credit bureaus, and other government departments to double-check whether people are declaring all their income.
Those caught in the review cycle will only be paid on the new fourth date, after completing the verification process.
Matlou says this ensures no one gets left behind—just slightly delayed.
How the Review Process Works in 2025
If you usually receive your grant between Tuesday and Thursday, and you haven’t been contacted, you don’t need to do anything.
But if you’ve received an SMS telling you to report to a SASSA office—don’t ignore it.
If you fail to respond within three months of being contacted, your grant will be suspended.
SASSA says it has already sent out 140,000 SMS notifications, although many beneficiaries claim they didn’t receive them because they’ve changed phone numbers.
The agency aims to wrap up 300,000 reviews by the end of the year.
So, Is This Fair or Just More Bureaucratic Stress?
This new fourth payment day is clearly SASSA’s way of balancing grant accessibility with stricter fraud checks.
But it also brings up tough questions about whether the process is fair, especially when many vulnerable South Africans are stuck in long lines or waiting for help at under-resourced SASSA branches.
Do you think this new system makes sense—or is it just making life harder for those who need help the most?