SASSA Pensioners Losing Grant Money to Illegal Deductions, KZN Warns

• Scammers are quietly draining money from elderly South Africans' grant accounts through fake offers and unauthorised charges
• The October payout cycle arrived with no grant increase, leaving pensioners with less to cover rising living costs
• SASSA and local officials are urging families to help elderly relatives protect their banking details before the November payments
• Briefly News spoke to financial expert Mohammed Areff about what people should do if money has been taken from their grant account without their permission

Elderly South Africans are being targeted by scammers who are siphoning money from their government grant accounts without authorisation. Reports from KwaZulu-Natal have raised the alarm, with pensioners discovering their monthly payments arrive short after falling victim to fraudulent schemes tied to grocery vouchers, food packages and other fake offers.

Many beneficiaries only realise something is wrong when unauthorised debits, airtime charges or micro-loan repayments show up on their bank statements. By then, the damage is already done.

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Grant increases paused amid growing pressure

The timing could not be worse. October's payment cycle came and went without any upward adjustment to grant amounts, marking the first time in two years that beneficiaries did not receive even a modest top-up to help offset the cost of living.

Adding to the uncertainty, the November payment schedule has not been finalised. The original date set for Disability Grant payments, Wednesday, 4 November 2026, clashes with South Africa's local government elections.

The South African Social Security Agency is reviewing its calendar to accommodate the voting day and is asking beneficiaries to remain calm while adjustments are made.

How to protect your SASSA grant

Pietermaritzburg Ward 1 councillor Khulekani Msomi is calling on families to get more involved in helping elderly relatives manage their finances and avoid sharing banking details with unknown companies.

SASSA has been clear that it does not process any deductions from within its own payment system. The agency's only function is to pay grants out. Any unauthorised debit appearing on a statement originates from outside the agency, and SASSA advises anyone affected to move their grant to a new, secure account as soon as possible.

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For those wanting to update their banking details with SASSA, the process works as follows:

1. Open a new bank account at a financial institution of your choice.
2. Collect an Annexure C form from your nearest SASSA office, take it to your new bank to be stamped, and have your account details officially confirmed.
3. Return the stamped form to a SASSA branch together with your ID document and complete biometric verification.

SASSA must receive updated banking details before the 19th of the month for the changes to take effect in the following payment cycle.

Speaking to Briefly News writer Nerissa Naidoo, Mohammed Areff explained what people should do after being scammed:

“If you notice a payment or debit that you did not approve, report it to your bank as soon as possible and ask them to block any further unauthorised transactions. Do not give the scammer any more information, even if they contact you again. Check your statements regularly and report the scam to the relevant authorities. If you are an elderly person, it is also a good idea to ask a trusted family member to help you check your account and protect your banking details.”

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More on pensioners and grants in SA

• Briefly News recently reported on the City of Johannesburg's new campaign for pensioners and the rebate some seniors could get in full.
• 169,000 SASSA grants have been suspended, and one man wants to know how beneficiaries were meant to respond.
• A popular Johannesburg attraction is now free for pensioners, giving older residents a chance to make lasting memories with their families.

Source: Briefly News