Staff Reporter
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has refuted claims that any money entering a grant beneficiary’s bank account automatically results in the cancellation of a grant.
This follows panic among social grant beneficiaries on social media posts, that having money deposited into their bank account will automatically result in the grant being cancelled.
The Agency responded through a statement that the claims are misleading.
According to SASSA, a social grant assessment and review do not necessarily mean that a grant application is automatically rejected, suspended or cancelled during reviews.
“This is incorrect,” emphasised SASSA.
“SASSA conducts verification processes using information obtained, with the appropriate legal basis and consent, from relevant institutions and databases.”
It clarified that reviews are an important part of responsible social security administration due to possible changes in a beneficiary’s circumstances.
It is mostly the social grants that are subject to a means test, with the foster child grant being an exception.
“A review is therefore not a punishment, nor should it automatically be interpreted as a decision to terminate a grant.”
The Agency’s consent documentation provides for verification of information including financial status, income and bank account details for purposes of assessing and considering eligibility for social assistance.
“However, the identification of a transaction, deposit, income record or other information is not, by itself, a substitute for the statutory eligibility assessment.”
The relevant question is whether the beneficiary meets the applicable requirements for the specific grant, including the prescribed means-test threshold where applicable.
For example, the existence of money in a bank account does not mean that every amount reflected in that account is automatically treated as a permanent monthly income that disqualifies a person from receiving a grant.
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