SASSA Old-Age Grants set for big changes this September

After months of keeping things unchanged, SASSA is set to overhaul Old-Age Grants in September 2025.

At the heart of the changes, the agency will require all recipients to complete biometric enrollment at its offices. Practically, this means that recipients over 75 will still receive R2 330 this week, while beneficiaries aged 60 to 74 will get R2 310.

Starting today (Monday, 1 September 2025), SASSA will require all new grant applicants and existing beneficiaries under review to complete biometric enrollment. The agency will conduct the process only at its offices, aiming to eliminate fraudulent payments.

SASSA OLD-AGE GRANTS IN SEPTEMBER 2025

The South African Social Security Agency is actively working to eliminate all forms of social-welfare fraud. In June 2025, it launched an extensive review process for beneficiaries with potentially questionable additional income.

The agency sends an SMS to those under review, requiring them to verify their details in person at a SASSA office. To avoid inconveniencing beneficiaries who prove their eligibility, SASSA also introduced a fourth monthly payment date.

As we know, the South African Social Security Agency is on a mission to stamp out social-welfare fraud off all types. Back in June 2025, it announced an extensive review process for those who may have questionable additional income. Those under review receive an SMS from the agency and have to verify their details in-person at a SASSA office. SASSA even initiated a fourth payment date each month so those under review who proved their innocence were not unduly inconvenienced.

Now, the latest development is mandatory biometric enrolment for SASSA Old-Age Grants in September 2025. SASSA CEO Temba Matlou explains that: “Biometrics is all in the name of improving systems to detect and root out any fraudulent social grants. We want to make SASSA resilient against manipulation and error. Especially in cases involving forged green identity documents,” says Matlou.

WHAT YOU NEED FOR BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION

Therefore, if you are a new applicant of SASSA Old-Age Grants in September 2025, or placed under review, here’s what you’ll need. According to the agency, all grant applications captured and approved from today (1 September 2025) must include:  

• Biometric fingerprints.
• Digital facial-recognition photo.

Both are the cornerstones to SASSA’s Electronic Know Your Client (eKYC) scheme. But don’t worry because you won’t need anything else besides presenting yourself in-person at a SASSA office.

WHAT ABOUT QUEUES AND SYSTEM OVERLOAD?

One potential issue for SASSA Old-Age Grants in September 2025 is system overload and server breakdown. As The South African has reported before, most SASSA offices can only handle an average of 500 clients per day. However, with SASSA reviews increasing since June 2025, the queues at most offices are becoming unbearable, with people queuing all day and still not being assisted.

Now you’ve got the added burden of every single grant applicant needing to go through complicated biometric capturing. As such, Matlou called for an ‘all-hands-on-deck approach for agency staff’ to meet the increasing demand. “The agency has the necessary infrastructure and tools in all its offices. Front-line staff have been trained to ensure efficient implementation of the biometric enrolment,” insists the SASSA CEO.

CAN SASSA OLD-AGE GRANTS IN SEPTEMBER 2025 BE WITHHELD?

A reminder that while the focus is on biometric enrolment, newly increased asset and means test limits for SASSA Old-Age Grants in September 2025 are still in effect. Therefore, if the agency has reason to believe you’ve been exceeding these, you will be notified by SMS for a review. If so, you must bring the following for your grant review within a three-month time frame:  

• A recent/valid three-month bank statement.
• Valid work payslip.
• Copy of your ID (plus your child’s ID if applicable).
• Proof of residence (no older than three months).

PAY BACK THE MONEY

If you’re found to be over either prescribed limit, you will have to pay back your ill-gotten SASSA grants. The agency has various payment systems in place. One is a lump sum payment in full. And the others are ‘budget’ repayments over a number of months or a debit order system. However, these will accrue interest and end up costing you more in the long run.

Plus, anyone undergoing this process without biometric data will be put into a separate review cycle. And you will be notified about the need to capture biometrics in-person when required. Nevertheless, let’s reconfirm who can apply for SASSA Old-Age Grants in September 2025. And when the payment dates are …

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SASSA OLD-AGE GRANTS IN SEPTEMBER 2025?

Take note of the remaining pay dates for SASSA Elderly Person Grants this year:

• SEPTEMBER – Tuesday 2 September 2025 (this week)
• OCTOBER – Thursday 2 October 2025 (potential increase unconfirmed)
• NOVEMBER – Tuesday 4 November 2025
• DECEMBER – Tuesday 2 December 2025

Over and above biometric compliance, new applicants will need to supply the following documents:

• Only over 60s qualify.
• Bring an official RSA identity document (ID).
• Provide all documents proving your marital status.
• Supply a proof of residence (a utility bill with your name on it).
• Show all proof of income and/or financial dividends.
• Bring any information regarding assets, valuation of property.
• You must declare any private pension in your name.
• Provide a valid three months’ statement certified by your bank (no older than three months).

If you are denied SASSA Old-Age Grants in September 2025 there is a 90-day appeal process with the Department of Social Development (DSD). Click HERE for all the necessary documents.