JOHANNESBURG — Thousands of beneficiaries flagged for a SASSA grant review have been urged to prepare the required documents ahead of the August 2026 payment cycle to avoid further disruptions to their grants.
The reminder follows SASSA’s confirmation that beneficiaries selected for review will not be paid during the normal three-day payment schedule.
Instead, they will receive their grant on Friday, August 07, 2026, before reporting to a SASSA office to complete the review process.
The announcement comes as SASSA faces mounting pressure over blocked payments and lengthy review queues, with many beneficiaries still waiting for outstanding cases to be resolved.
SASSA stressed that beneficiaries who do not receive their grant on August 04, 05 or 06 “should not panic or rush to their nearest SASSA office.”
If their grant has been selected for review, payment will instead be processed on the fourth payment day.
Why SASSA is reviewing grants
SASSA says grant reviews are required by the Social Assistance Act to confirm that beneficiaries still qualify for financial assistance.
According to the agency, reviews help to:
- Verify continued eligibility for social grants.
- Prevent fraud and abuse.
- Protect the integrity of the social assistance system.
- Maintain an accurate beneficiary database.
The agency also reminded beneficiaries to report any changes that may affect their grant, including changes to their income, marital status, residential address, contact details or extended travel outside South Africa.
Review notifications are sent by SMS. Beneficiaries should therefore ensure SASSA has their latest cellphone number and contact information.
Documents to bring for your SASSA grant review
Beneficiaries attending a SASSA grant review should bring original documents and certified copies where required.
These include:
- A valid South African ID or Smart ID card.
- A spouse’s ID, where applicable.
- Proof of income, including recent payslips, pension slips or an affidavit if unemployed.
- Bank statements covering the previous three months for all active accounts.
- Proof of residence, such as a municipal account, utility bill or a letter from a ward councillor or traditional authority.
- Proof of marital status where applicable, including a marriage certificate, divorce order, death certificate or separation affidavit.
- Grant-specific documents, such as children’s birth certificates, school attendance confirmation or any additional documents listed in the review SMS.
Beneficiaries who are bedridden or medically unable to visit a SASSA office may appoint an authorised representative to complete the process on their behalf.
August payment dates for grants under review
The August payment schedule is:
- Older Persons Grant: August 04, 2026
- Disability Grant: August 05, 2026
- Children’s Grants: August 06, 2026
- Grants under review: August 07, 2026
Beneficiaries who receive their payment on August 07 must still visit a SASSA office during August to complete the review.
SASSA warned that “failure to respond to a review request may result in the grant being suspended or lapsing in accordance with the Social Assistance Act.”
Beneficiaries uncertain whether they have been selected for review can consult our guide explaining the fourth SASSA payment day and how to check if your grant has been flagged for review.
For assistance, beneficiaries can send a WhatsApp message to +27 82 046 8553, email grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za, call the SASSA toll-free line on 0800 60 10 11 (landline calls only), or find their nearest office through the official SASSA contact directory at https://services.sassa.gov.za/portal/r/sassa/sassa/contact-us-pu.
Beneficiaries who have exhausted standard channels without resolving their issues may escalate complaints to the Presidential Hotline via president@presidency.gov.za.
