With the June 2026 payment cycle set to begin in just over a week, Parliament has raised serious concerns over growing reports of unpaid South African Social Security (SASSA) grants.
The payment failures are reportedly linked to the agency’s intensified verification and fraud crackdown processes.
The warning comes as older persons and child grant recipients prepare for the next payment cycle. As outlined in our previous coverage of the official SASSA June 2026 payment cycle, the rollout begins with Older Persons grants on June 2, followed by Child Support Grants the next day.
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development while it supports efforts to remove fraud and ineligible beneficiaries from the system, the current verification drive is also blocking or delaying payments to lawful recipients before reviews are finalised.
The committee’s concerns follow stricter National Treasury conditions requiring SASSA to strengthen biometric registration, bank verification and life certification checks.
According to Parliament, SASSA reported savings of roughly R44 million per month through these interventions. Out of 420,000 social grant reviews, the agency completed 243,275 and lapsed about 169,049 grants as part of efforts to clean up the system.
But MPs now warn the process is creating hardship for vulnerable households.
“Even though the committee notes these gains, it remains concerned about the reported cases of non-payment of social grants to beneficiaries while the verification process has not been completed,” said committee chairperson Bridget Masango.
“This has resulted in hardship for many beneficiaries. This has resulted in exclusions of possibly eligible beneficiaries that the committee had cautioned against and calls for it to be urgently addressed.”
SASSA pensioners and child grant recipients among hardest hit
Parliament said many of the affected beneficiaries include pensioners and child grant recipients who rely entirely on these monthly grants to survive.
The committee warned that some beneficiaries are going without food, transport money and chronic medication because payments have been stopped while reviews remain incomplete.
The issue has become increasingly urgent as SASSA intensifies biometric checks, income verification and eLife certification processes.
Parliament stressed that anti-fraud measures should not punish lawful beneficiaries.
“The committee supports any interventions implemented to rid the social grant payment system off fraud and corruption and the payment of social grants to ineligible beneficiaries, but this should not be done at the expense of eligible beneficiaries,” Masango said.
Long SASSA queues and costly travel burden poor households
MPs also raised concerns over SASSA’s inability to keep pace with the growing number of people now required to visit branches in person.
Beneficiaries flagged for undisclosed income, identity mismatches or failed biometric checks are often instructed to report to SASSA offices before payments can resume.
But Parliament heard that many rural and poor households cannot afford repeated trips to overcrowded branches.
As EFF MP Paulnita Marais previously highlighted, the committee continues receiving complaints from distressed beneficiaries struggling with the review process.
“More and more people are sending us emails, WhatsApps and SMSs about difficulties with SRD verification and in-person reviews.
“The verification is good for what you’re doing… but what about the people struggling with it?”
DA MP Alexandra Abrahams also questioned how beneficiaries are expected to travel to SASSA offices without money.
“You’re asking them to present themselves, but it costs them at least R150 in urban areas to get to an office, if not more in rural areas. So what happens if someone says, ‘I actually don’t have money to present myself’? Are you just going to cut their grants?”
Beneficiaries vent frustration over SRD and biometric failures
Frustration over the verification process continues to grow online, with many beneficiaries complaining about unpaid grants, failed biometrics and unresolved support requests.
One beneficiary wrote on X:
“Did you know that when we go to a branch, we are told to call the 0800 number for SRD R370? Just to change our numbers simply because the biometrics won’t pick up our faces? We call the number and no one can help.”
Another applicant questioned repeated SRD rejections despite having no income. Others believe the stricter bank verification process is now central to SASSA’s fraud checks.
“SASSA wants everyone to get paid via bank, so that they can be able to track if you are working or not,” another user claimed online.
Concerns have also surfaced around stricter Child Support Grant requirements during means testing, particularly where another parent’s income details are requested.
One user wrote:
“So SASSA is standing on business, they want that baby daddy’s payslip or no payout for your child.”
SASSA expands biometric verification and means testing
SASSA’s biometric verification drive has expanded rapidly since September 2025 as government tightens controls over the social grant system.
Parliament was recently told that nearly one million beneficiaries have already been biometrically verified nationwide, while thousands of grants have been suspended or lapsed during reviews.
The agency said payment delays or suspensions are often linked to:
- incomplete banking verification
- undisclosed income
- failed facial recognition checks
- identity mismatches
- incomplete life certification
- database cross-checks with other government departments
SASSA has also intensified means testing across several grants.
A means test assesses a beneficiary’s income and assets to determine whether they still qualify for assistance. If income exceeds the prescribed threshold, the grant application may be declined or suspended.
The stricter verification campaign forms part of Treasury’s broader push to eliminate ghost beneficiaries, double-dipping and fraudulent payments.
Last year, NOWinSA reported on Treasury’s growing pressure on SASSA over verification failures.
June 2026 SASSA payment dates
Despite Parliament’s concerns, SASSA’s June 2026 payment cycle is still expected to proceed according to schedule.
The expected payment dates are:
- Older Persons Grants and War Veterans Grants — June 2, 2026
- Disability Grants — June 3, 2026
- Child Support and remaining grants — June 4, 2026
Meanwhile, SRD R370 payments for May 2026 are expected between May 27 and May 28. Beneficiaries can check the latest SRD May 2026 payment dates here.
SASSA contact details for payment and verification queries
Beneficiaries experiencing payment failures, suspended grants or verification problems can contact SASSA through the following channels:
- Toll-free number: 0800 60 10 11
- Head Office switchboard: 012 400 2322
- SRD website: srd.sassa.gov.za
- Online services portal: services.sassa.gov.za
- Email: GrantsEnquiries@sassa.gov.za
For more updates, payment dates and breaking social grant news, visit NOWinSA’s SASSA news page — Stories Shaping South Africa Today.
For more updates, payment dates and breaking social grant news, visit NOWinSA’s SASSA news page — Stories Shaping South Africa Today.
