The South African Social Security Agency has, as on the 25th of October, officially announced that old-age grants will henceforth be increased. Those above the ages of 60 and below 75 will be paid R2,320 per month, whereas the older persons above 75 years will be paid R2,340 per month. This R10 increase is situated in SASSA’s regular October adjustments, which have been a lot smaller than the one in April. For pensioners who have to depend on these grants, an increase, however little, means some relief from inflation.
Giving Fraud the Treatment it Deserves: Setup of Review Procedures
Alongside the increase, stricter review procedures have been set up by SASSA to prevent fraud and guarantee that benefits are only paid to eligible persons. Beneficiaries might receive a text message before their next payment is released, asking that they verify their details. If that were the case, beneficiaries needed to visit a SASSA office to update any information regarding their income or circumstances. Should they refuse, their pertinent payments could be suspended temporarily until the expected procedure is completed.
The SASSA has required that biometric enrolment be part of the new application process from September 2025. This will involve photographing the applicant and taking fingerprints as part of the verification process. Biometric verification will also be required for existing beneficiaries who are under review or simply want to change their payment method.
Requirements for New Beneficiaries
An applicant for the Old Age Grant must be 60-plus years of age with a valid South African ID. If they have a bank account, a certified three-month statement is required; otherwise, proof of one’s preferred payment method is sufficient. Applicants must also provide proof of residence (not older than three months), marital status, and income or assets.
In the case of applicants who are reapplying or under review, any changes affecting private pensions, assets, or income must also be declared. Failure to comply with the requirements or surpassing the income threshold could cause repayment of overpaid grants.
What Happens if Companies Are Placed on Review?
Beneficiaries put on review are required to submit their IDs, recent bank statements, and proof of residence. SASSA may require repayment if it finds that the adult beneficiary earned above the monthly qualifying income. Repayment may be through a lump sum, monthly instalments (with interest), or some sort of debit order arrangement.
Payment Days for the Remaining of 2025
Now, SASSA issued the last payment dates for old-age grants of 2025. They will pay these on:
- 2 October 2025
- 4 November 2025
- 2 December 2025
SASSA further warns all applicants and beneficiaries that SASSA services are free of charge, so no one has the right to solicit money from them. Any such incident of money solicitation should be reported without delay.
Also Read: R560 SASSA Grant 2025 – Who Qualifies and When Payments Will Be Made