Agency clarifies facts on SASSA Old-Age Grant deductions
A surge of unauthorised SASSA Old-Age Grant deductions has prompted the agency to clarify what actions it can and cannot take with your money.
SASSA responds to multiple complaints about unauthorised Old-Age Grant deductions. CEO Themba Matlou clarified last week that the agency lacks authority to deduct from Old-Age Grants. So, what explains the recent surge in these cases?
SASSA OLD-AGE GRANT DEDUCTIONS
The South African Social Security Agency clarifies that it cannot make deductions without notifying recipients in advance and obtaining their consent. If you have not received your full grant amount for August, contact SASSA immediately to resolve the issue.
Recently, several SASSA beneficiaries reported that their grants arrived with R165 already deducted, The Citizen reports. Due to the high volume of complaints, authorities suspect this issue goes beyond isolated incidents and involves nefarious actors.
DODGY FUNERAL POLICIES TO BLAME
“I can tell you outright that we are not allowed to make SASSA Old-Age Grant deductions from a beneficiary without their consent. That is the regulation. Your money is your money. Once we give you the money, we have no control over that,” clarified Matlou.
“However, of course, there will be these unscrupulous chance-takers who will try to take advantage of SASSA grant recipients. A possible reason could be funeral policies being deducted from immediately after the SASSA Grant payment. But the agency does not offer any such policy. And the agency does not allow anyone to advertise policies using its branding,” Matlou explained.
THE AGENCY IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE
Matlou acknowledged that the agency has received reports of unauthorised SASSA Old-Age Grant deductions and has handed the investigations over to the SAPS to track down those responsible. Misrepresenting yourself as a government entity is a serious offence.
If you believe you’ve been targeted by unauthorised SASSA Old-Age Grant deductions, here’s what you can do:
- SMS your ID number, full name, the name of the financial service provider, policy duration and reason for disputing the deduction to 34548.
- WhatsApp SASSA on +27 82 046 8553
- Call the SASSA helpline on 080 060 1011 or visit a local office in-person.
- You may also want to contact your bank and/or third-party insurer if you think our profiles have been compromised.
SASSA CONTACTS BY PROVINCE
Try contacting SASSA for assistance on the following provincial numbers:
- Eastern Cape: 043 707 6300
- Gauteng: 011 241 8320
- Mpumalanga: 013 754 9446
- Limpopo: 015 291 7509
- North West: 018 388 4006
- Free State: 051 410 8339
- North West: 053 802 4919
- KwaZulu-Natal: 033 846 3324
- Western Cape: 021 469 0235