SASSA has suspended around 70,000 social grants after thousands of beneficiaries failed to complete mandatory eligibility reviews by February 2026.
What Happened
On 5 February 2026, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) confirmed that it had suspended approximately 70,000 social grants during its ongoing national review of beneficiary eligibility.
The agency is conducting large-scale income verification, biometric checks, and data-matching with other institutions to ensure only eligible people continue receiving grants.
This is part of SASSA’s annual compliance process required by law under the Social Assistance Act, 2004.
Official Response
According to SASSA, the review process has already covered 240,000 grants so far this financial year. Nearly 400,000 beneficiaries have been notified to undergo reviews, with a full-year target of 420,000.
The suspended grants relate to individuals who failed to present themselves for verification or life certification after being notified.
SASSA confirmed that:
- Approximately 495,296 clients were flagged during income verification checks
- Notifications have already been sent to most of them
- A separate 162,574 clients were flagged through cross-checks with NSFAS and other databases
- 291,581 clients on government payrolls were identified for further review
The agency reiterated that grants are only suspended if beneficiaries fail to comply after receiving notice.
Community Impact
SASSA says these compliance efforts help reduce fraud and protect public funds. According to the agency, the crackdown is already saving government about R44 million per month — nearly R0.5 billion per year.
Spokespersons stressed that affected beneficiaries can still come forward and have their grants reinstated if they complete the review process.
To reduce in-person queues, SASSA is urging people to use its self-service life certification platform (e-Certification) and ensure contact details are up to date.
What Happens Next
Beneficiaries who receive review notices must act promptly to avoid further suspension or permanent lapsing of their grants. Non-compliance will result in payment termination.
SASSA encourages the use of digital tools for convenience and warns that failure to update contact information may prevent receipt of critical notifications.
For full details and guidance, see our updated explainer:
How to avoid SASSA grant suspension in 2026
