The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has now made it compulsory for all grant beneficiaries to undergo biometric verification in order to access their payments. This is in line with efforts to strengthen the security systems and reduce instances of fraud in social grants. The previous systems—mostly using pin numbers or very basic identification checks—were greatly considered prone to unauthorized access and misuse.
What Does This Mean for Biometric Verification?
In the quite straightforward process of biometric verification, a person’s unique traits-prints, in this case, and sometimes other options such as facial or voice recognition-are used to establish the identity of the grant beneficiary. These traits are then checked against what is stored within SASSA’s system to ensure that payments are properly made to the rightful recipient. Should a person be physically limited, alternate means of verification are offered.
The Reason Behind This Change
Fraud and impersonation used to be the two biggest red flags for SASSA. Illegitimate collections, impostors posing as beneficiaries, and “ghost” payments have cost the system millions of rands. By using biometric verification, SASSA aims at reducing cancelable claims, improving accountability, andcreating the surety that its grants get safely to the hands of the deserving, including elderly, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable people.
Implementation Timeline & Grace Periods
The implementation of evolution goes a biometrics-whereby in phases for different regions. By end of this quarter, every payment point must mandate biometric verification. Some regions may have recent grace periods to allow some time for compliance, which are short-lived. After full implementation, an instance of not verifying will lead to blocked grant or paused grant payments.
How to Complete Biometric Registration
Registering of the biometric data is a simple procedure. One has to visit the nearest SASSA offices or designated registration point. Remember to carry with you:
- A valid South African ID document (green book or ID card)
- Your current SASSA payment card.
- Your fingerprints will be captured at the time of actual registration, and a photograph may also be taken and, in some instances, other means of verification may be applied. The process normally takes about 15-20 minutes. Mobile units are also in deployment to reach out to people in remote and rural areas.
What Happens If You Don’t Verify in Time
If an applicant fails to biometric verify himself within the prescribed time frame in his area, the grant may be suspended by SASSA until such time that verification is shown. SASSA has also announced that, in its pilot areas (for instance, the Eastern Cape), there was a 23% reduction in fraudulent claims soon after the biometric system went into operation.
Also Read: South Africa Retirement Age Update: What Seniors Need To Know