NATIONAL NEWS - The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) will begin paying out May’s social grants next week.
The dates are as follows:
- Older persons grant: 6 May
- Disability grant: 7 May
- Children’s grant: 8 May
Your legal obligation as a grant recipient
Many beneficiaries may not realise that receiving a social grant comes with legal responsibilities. According to Sassa, the Social Assistance Act of 2004 requires recipients to fully disclose all sources of income and material personal information when they apply, and to report any changes in their circumstances going forward, as outlined in Section 14(5) of the Act.
Sassa was explicit on this point: “While a beneficiary may have qualified at the time of application, changes in circumstances must be reported to Sassa to ensure continued eligibility.”
This means that even if nothing appears to have changed, beneficiaries are still legally required to keep the agency informed about shifts in their income, marital status or contact details.
What happens if you don’t comply
The consequences of ignoring review or life certification requirements are serious. “Beneficiaries who fail to comply with review or life certification requirements may have their grants suspended, with continued non-compliance potentially resulting in the lapsing of grants,” the agency cautioned.
Sassa reminded all recipients of their obligation to inform the agency of any changes to their personal circumstances, “including contact information, marital status and income to avoid their grants being suspended or lapsed.”
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