The agency is urging all four-million beneficiaries to keep track of their SASSA Elderly Person Grants in August 2025. The Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, tabled her social welfare budget vote in Parliament this month, and it is clear government wants to tighten its belt for the 2025/26 financial year.
As such, cost-cutting will be felt on SASSA Elderly Person Grants in August 2025, as it is for all other social welfare. Particularly, when it comes to income verification for clients, the agency has in fact added a fourth payment date to the cycle. Here’s what that entails and what you need to know to avoid any disruption this month …
SASSA ELDERLY PERSON GRANTS IN AUGUST 2025
Last month, the South African Social Security Agency confirmed the criteria for a fourth payment date for SASSA Elderly Person Grants in August 2025. Specifically, this relates to any SASSA recipients who have had their monthly grants reviewed. If your income and/or identity verification has not been rectified in time, you run the risk of landing on the fourth payment date, or worse …
Traditionally, SASSA gave beneficiaries three months’ notice in writing before a grant review took place. However, following above-inflation grant increases back in April 2025, and the appointment of a new CEO, Temba Matlou, the department has been on a cost-cutting mission.
WITHHOLD GRANTS FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER
As such, in a bid to reduce wastage, the agency has withheld nearly a quarter of a million social grants since May 2025. However, facing public backlash, SASSA insists that no grants are being cancelled, but merely suspended till rectified. Affected beneficiaries have three months to come forward to a SASSA branch and prove their income/assets and identity are in order.
However, as anyone who’s visited a SASSA office will attest to, the challenge now is being helped timeously. Clients say SASSA branches are currently overwhelmed by people who are simply trying to rectify their review. Moreover, of the nearly 250 000 SASSA grant reviews issued via SMS, the agency says nearly 100 000 of those are SMSes are still undelivered. Many SASSA applications are often made on a friend/family members’ phone and these numbers change and/or clients move without updating the agency on their whereabouts.
WHAT HAPPENS UNDER SASSA REVIEW
As The South African reported previously, here’s what you’ll need if you are selected for SASSA review.
- Bring along a recent bank statement.
- Valid work payslip.
- Copy your ID (plus your child’s ID if applicable).
- Supply proof of residence (no older than three months).
However, if the agency suspects you’ve over-stepped the monthly income threshold for your grant, you will have to pay back the money in full. The agency is now able to cross-reference all your income details and calculate the exact month you overstepped the criteria. No extra income will be tolerated.
You can either pay the money back in full. Or you may arrange a debit order that goes off each month through your bank account. A third option is the agency can setup a lay-away payment system. But this will accrue interest and end up costing you more over the long term.
APPLYING FOR ELDERLY PERSON BENEFITS
That’s what the new fourth SASSA payment date is for. Typically falling on the first Friday of each month, it is for beneficiaries who have resolved their grant review, so they don’t need to wait an entire month for payment.
Nevertheless, here’s how you can apply for SASSA Elderly Person Grants in August 2025:
- Only over 60s qualify for SASSA Elderly Person Grants.
- 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’).
- Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) membership book, or discharge certificate from your previous employer.
- A copy of your will, and first and final liquidation and distribution accounts if your spouse has passed away in the last five years.
WHAT ARE THE ASSET AND MEANS’ LIMITS?
Crucial to securing SASSA Elderly Person Grants in August 2025 is proving to the agency that you are sufficiently under privileged. Therefore, your assets and income cannot exceed the following:
- Earn less than R8 990 per month (R107 880 per year) if single.
- Earn less than R17 980 per month (R215 760 per year) if married.
- Total assets must not be less than R1 524 600 if single.
- Total assets must be less than R3 049 200 if married.
If you are denied SASSA Elderly Person Grants in August 2025, you do have 90 days to lodge an appeal with the Department of Social Development (DSD) by clicking HERE and completing the forms in full.
NEXT PAYMENT DATES
It’s been a five-week gap since the last payment date, but for SASSA Elderly Person Grants in August 2025 will go ahead early next week. And here are the remaining pay dates for the year:
- AUGUST – Tuesday 5 August 2025
- SEPTEMBER – Tuesday 2 September 2025
- OCTOBER – Thursday 2 October 2025
- NOVEMBER – Tuesday 4 November 2025
- DECEMBER – Tuesday 2 December 2025
CONTACT SASSA BELOW
If you’re concerned your SASSA Elderly Person Grants in August 2025 are under review, you can contact SASSA for assistance on the following numbers:
- Toll-free number: 080 060 1011
- WhatsApp number: +27 82 046 8553
- 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
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SASSA GRANTS WE CAN HELP YOU WITH?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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