Thousands of South African pensioners are anxiously awaiting their July 2025 SASSA Old-Age Grant payments, which were scheduled for Wednesday.

This comes after the sudden suspension of grants for many in June. While the payments offer critical relief—R2 330 for those aged 75 and older, and R2 310 for those aged 60 to 74— the news follows rising panic over eligibility reviews, means testing, and widespread misinformation.

What’s happening with the old-age grants?

While the July payments are expected to proceed as scheduled, many pensioners were left reeling in June when their grants were suspended without prior warning, prompting outrage from public representatives, civil society, and affected beneficiaries.

According to SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi, the agency and registered credit bureaus flagged approximately 210,000 beneficiaries believed to have undisclosed income that might exceed eligibility thresholds. As a result, grants for June were withheld, and those affected were asked to report to their nearest SASSA offices within 30 days.

Why were grants suspended?

SASSA says the suspensions are part of an income verification initiative rooted in the Social Assistance Act, which requires all applicants to:

• Fully declare their income during application.

• Report any changes in their financial status thereafter.

Failure to do so may result in the temporary suspension or permanent termination of grants.

Confusion over reapplication and fake news

Further fuelling panic was a viral video that falsely claimed pensioners must reapply for their grants or risk losing them after July 1, prompting large crowds at some SASSA offices.

However, SASSA has dismissed these claims as misinformation and urged beneficiaries to wait for official confirmation.

“We urge beneficiaries to be aware and wait for official communication from SASSA. Any unauthenticated information should be treated as a rumour,” said Andile Tshona, SASSA’s media manager.

Income and asset thresholds: Do you still qualify?

SASSA’s verification process checks whether pensioners exceed the following income and asset limits:

The income and asset limits for applicants are as follows: for a single applicant, the monthly income limit is R8,070 with an asset limit of R1,372,800; for a married applicant, the monthly income limit is R16,140 with an asset limit of R2,745,600.

Grants may be withheld if recipients’ income exceeds these limits, even if the money comes from temporary family support or informal income.

Payment dates for July and beyond

SASSA’s official July 2025 grant schedule is as follows:

• Old-Age Grants: Wednesday, 2 July

• Disability Grants: Thursday, 3 July

• Children’s Grants: Friday, 4 July

Funds will remain in recipients’ accounts once deposited, so there’s no need to rush to withdraw on payday, SASSA has advised.

Remaining payment dates for 2025:

• August: Tuesday, 5 August

• September: Tuesday, 2 September

• October: Thursday, 2 October

• November: Tuesday, 4 November

• December: Tuesday, 2 December

This round of grant suspensions is part of cost-cutting and anti-fraud measures initiated by SASSA and the National Treasury, which now include:

• Monthly cross-referencing with Home Affairs, Correctional Services, and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

• Stricter enforcement of the asset and means test.

• Encouragement to move from green ID books to smart ID cards to reduce fraud.

Despite a R280 billion allocation for social grants in 2025/26, the agency is under pressure to reduce misuse and tighten controls.

How to secure or reapply for your grant

If you were affected by a suspension or need to apply for the Old-Age Grant, ensure you have the following:

• Valid South African ID (smart card preferred)

• Proof of residence

• Bank statements (last 3 months)

• Evidence of marital status

• Proof of income or lack thereof

• Information on assets or private pensions

• UIF membership or past employment documentation

• Will or estate documents if a spouse has passed in the last five years

You have 90 days to appeal any unsuccessful application or grant suspension.

SASSA contact info

For clarification or help:

• Toll-free: 0800 60 10 11

• WhatsApp: +27 82 046 8553

• Website: www.sassa.gov.za

• Email: GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za

Provincial numbers:

• Eastern Cape: 043 707 6300

• Gauteng: 011 241 8320

• KZN: 033 846 3324

• Western Cape: 021 469 0235 

It is worth noting that the full list is available on the SASSA website.

SASSA services are free of charge. Never pay anyone for assistance. If you suspect identity theft or fraud:

• Call the Anti-Corruption Hotline: 0800 701 701

• Email: Integrity@publicservicecorruptionhotline.org.za

• SMS: 39772

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