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As of February 2026, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is reviewing hundreds of thousands of social grants to ensure only eligible beneficiaries continue to receive payments. The review includes income checks, biometric verification, and cross-referencing with other government systems.
This guide explains what the review process means for you, how to check if you’re affected, and what to do next to avoid grant suspension.
Why it matters to you
If you’re a SASSA grant recipient, failing to complete your review could lead to your grant being suspended or even cancelled. SASSA has already suspended about 70,000 grants due to non-compliance.
Reviews are not optional — they are required by law under the Social Assistance Act. They help SASSA confirm whether your financial or personal circumstances still qualify you for assistance.
Who is affected by the 2026 SASSA reviews
The current review process affects beneficiaries who:
- Have not updated their details in a long time
- Were flagged through income verification with SARS or credit bureaus
- Are listed on government payrolls or NSFAS databases
- Have failed to complete life certification
If this applies to you, you should have received an SMS or letter from SASSA asking you to complete your review.
Key updates on the review process
SASSA has introduced new verification tools to reduce fraud and streamline eligibility checks. These include:
- Biometric enrolment for new applicants
- Life certification, including e-Life Certification via self-service portal
- Credit bureau and SARS income checks
- Cross-checking with NSFAS and other government payrolls
- Quarterly reporting to National Treasury for oversight
- Over 240,000 grants have been reviewed
- 70,000 grants were suspended due to non-compliance
- About 495,000 beneficiaries were identified for further income-based verification
What you need to do next
If you’ve received a review notice from SASSA, follow these steps immediately:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit your nearest SASSA office or use the e-Life Certification portal |
| 2 | Bring valid ID and proof of income, if required |
| 3 | Complete biometric verification, if requested |
| 4 | Report any changes to your marital status, income, or contact details |
| 5 | Keep your phone number and address updated to avoid missing notices |
Failure to respond could lead to your grant being suspended, and eventually lapsed.
What happens if you don’t respond
- You may lose your grant after repeated failure to complete the review
- You are legally required to disclose changes in income or circumstances
- Not receiving an SMS does not excuse non-compliance — update your contact details at your local office if unsure
SASSA does not cancel grants without notice, but failure to respond within the allowed time will result in suspension.
Where to get help or more information
SASSA urges beneficiaries to make use of self-service tools and local offices.
- Visit: www.sassa.gov.za
- Call Centre: 0800 60 10 11 (Toll-Free)
- Use the e-Life Certification portal for remote verification
- Go to your nearest SASSA local office for support
Stay informed by updating your contact details and checking payment dates. SASSA has added a 4th payment day to the calendar to help signal if a review is due.
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