About SASSA - South African Social Security Agency

SASSA is the South African Social Security Agency. It is the government body that pays nearly every social grant in South Africa - from the old age pension your gogo collects every month, to the R370 SRD grant introduced during the pandemic. This guide explains what SASSA is, how it works, the grants it pays, and how to contact them.

What is SASSA?

SASSA stands for the South African Social Security Agency. It was created under the SASSA Act 9 of 2004 and began operations in April 2005, with grants administered under the Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004. SASSA reports to the Department of Social Development (DSD).

• Type: National public entity (Schedule 3A under the Public Finance Management Act).
• Parent department: Department of Social Development (DSD).
• Head office: SASSA House, 501 Prodinsa Building, corner Steve Biko and Pretorius Streets, Pretoria.
• Provincial offices: One regional office in each of the 9 provinces, plus hundreds of local service points and pay-points.
• Leadership: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) reporting to the Minister of Social Development.

SASSA is not a bank, not a department, and not a private company. It is a public agency whose only purpose is to assess, approve, and pay social grants to South Africans who qualify.

What Does SASSA Do?

SASSA's core work is paying grants every month and making sure those grants reach the right people. Day to day, that means:

• Paying about 18 million beneficiaries every month - around one in three South Africans.
• Administering 8 main grant types plus the SRD R370 grant.
• Processing new applications at SASSA offices and through the SRD online portal.
• Running the means test to check whether applicants qualify based on income and assets.
• Verifying identity through Home Affairs records and (for SRD) biometric checks.
• Investigating fraud - both fraudulent applications and ghost beneficiaries.
• Managing payment systems - paying grants into bank accounts, Postbank accounts, and at SASSA pay-points.
• Issuing the SASSA Gold Card for beneficiaries who do not use a bank account.
• Responding to enquiries via the toll-free number, WhatsApp, and at SASSA offices.
• Implementing annual increases announced in the February Budget Speech.

The SRD R370 grant alone reaches around 8 million people each month, making it one of the largest cash-transfer programs in the world.

All SASSA Grants Explained

SASSA administers the following social grants. Each has its own eligibility rules, amount, and application process:

• Old Age Grant - the state pension for South Africans aged 60 and older who pass the means test. The largest grant by total spend.
• Disability Grant - for adults aged 18 to 59 who cannot work due to a medical condition. Can be temporary or permanent.
• Child Support Grant - paid to the primary caregiver of a child under 18. The largest grant by number of beneficiaries (roughly 13 million children).
• Care Dependency Grant - for parents or caregivers of children under 18 with severe disabilities who need full-time care.
• Foster Child Grant - paid to court-appointed foster parents.
• War Veterans Grant - for veterans of WWI, WWII, or the Korean War. Very few beneficiaries remain.
• Grant in Aid - an extra payment for people on Old Age, Disability, or War Veterans grants who need full-time care.
• SRD R370 Grant - the Social Relief of Distress grant for unemployed adults aged 18 to 59 with no other income. Introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and extended every year since.

For the exact amounts and recent changes, see our SASSA grant amounts page.

How SASSA Works

Behind the simple act of receiving a grant payment sits a complex assessment and verification system. Here is what happens from application to payment.

The application process

For most grants (Old Age, Disability, Child Support, Care Dependency, Foster Child, War Veterans, Grant in Aid), you apply in person at a SASSA office. You bring your ID, supporting documents (medical reports, birth certificates, proof of income), and a banking detail form. A SASSA officer helps you complete the application.

For the SRD R370 grant, applications are online only at srd.sassa.gov.za. There is no in-person SRD application.

The means test

Most SASSA grants are means-tested. This means SASSA checks your income and assets to see if you really need the grant. The thresholds depend on the grant type. For the SRD, the income threshold is currently R624 per month - if you receive more than that from any source, you do not qualify. See our SASSA means test page for the full thresholds.

Identity verification

SASSA checks your ID against Home Affairs records to confirm you are who you say you are. For SRD applicants, SASSA also runs cross-checks against UIF, NSFAS, SARS, and bank records to detect undeclared income. Some applicants are asked to complete biometric verification (facial recognition) before being approved.

Payment systems

Once approved, grants are paid in one of three ways:

• Bank account - any South African bank account in your name (Capitec, Standard Bank, FNB, ABSA, Nedbank, TymeBank, Discovery, African Bank).
• Postbank / SASSA Gold Card - for beneficiaries without a regular bank account.
• Cash at a SASSA pay-point - mostly in rural areas where banking access is limited (this method is being phased out).

Payment dates differ by grant type. Older persons are paid first each month, followed by disability grants, then child-related grants. See the 2026 SASSA payment calendar for exact dates.

SASSA History

Before 2005, social grants in South Africa were administered separately by each of the nine provincial governments. This caused real problems: payment delays in some provinces while others paid on time, different staffing standards, inconsistent fraud controls, and complaints that beneficiaries in some provinces got better service than in others.

The Social Assistance Act of 2004 set out a new framework for a unified national grants system. SASSA was formally established in 2005 to be that single, centralised payer. Provincial Departments of Social Development still exist, but they no longer pay grants - they focus on social work, child protection, and welfare services.

Since 2005, SASSA has gone through several major phases:

• Cash Paymaster Services era (2012-2018): A contractor called CPS distributed grants on behalf of SASSA. The contract was later found by the Constitutional Court to have been invalidly awarded, and SASSA took payments back in-house with Postbank.
• Postbank/SASSA card transition (2018-2020): Beneficiaries were migrated to the SASSA Gold Card, issued by the South African Post Office and Postbank.
• COVID-19 SRD introduction (May 2020): The Social Relief of Distress grant was launched at R350/month to help unemployed adults during the pandemic. It was extended every year and increased to R370 in April 2024.
• Online SRD platform: SASSA built its first large-scale online application portal at srd.sassa.gov.za - a major shift from the in-person model used for older grants.

SASSA Contact Details

The main official SASSA contact channels are:

• Toll-free number: 0800 60 10 11 (free from any phone, weekday office hours).
• WhatsApp: 082 046 8553 (24/7 automated service - save the number and send "Hi").
• Email: GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za (allow a few days for a response).
• Website: sassa.gov.za
• SRD portal: srd.sassa.gov.za (status checks, SRD applications, appeals).
• Head office: SASSA House, 501 Prodinsa Building, corner Steve Biko and Pretorius Streets, Pretoria. Phone 012 400 2322 (not toll-free).

For provincial office numbers and the best times to call, see our full SASSA contact numbers page. To find the nearest office to you, use our SASSA branch finder.

Common SASSA Scams to Watch For

Grant fraud is a serious problem in South Africa. SASSA will never:

• Ask you to pay a fee to apply for, approve, or release a grant.
• Ask for your bank PIN, password, or OTP.
• Send you a link by SMS or WhatsApp asking you to log in.
• Phone you from a private cellphone number to discuss your application.

If anyone contacts you claiming to be SASSA and asks for money or banking credentials, it is a scam. See our SASSA scams page for the most common fraud patterns and how to report them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does SASSA stand for?

SASSA stands for the South African Social Security Agency. It is a government agency that pays about 18 million social grants every month.

Who runs SASSA?

SASSA is led by a CEO who reports to the Minister of Social Development. It falls under the Department of Social Development (DSD).

When was SASSA established?

SASSA was created in 2005 under the Social Assistance Act. Before then, each province paid grants separately, which caused inconsistent service.

What grants does SASSA pay?

SASSA pays the Old Age Grant, Disability Grant, Child Support Grant, Care Dependency Grant, Foster Child Grant, War Veterans Grant, Grant in Aid, and the SRD R370 grant.

How do I contact SASSA?

The SASSA toll-free number is 0800 60 10 11. The WhatsApp number is 082 046 8553. You can also email GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za.

Related SASSA Pages

• SASSA Hub - All Grants & Services
• About DSD - Department of Social Development
• About ITSAA - Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals
• SASSA Contact Numbers, WhatsApp & Office Hours
• All Grant Amounts 2026
• SASSA Means Test Explained
• Find Your Nearest SASSA Office
• Common SASSA Scams
• SRD R370 Grant Hub

Sources

• South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) - sassa.gov.za
• Department of Social Development - dsd.gov.za
• Social Assistance Act, 2004
• SASSA Annual Reports
• National Treasury Budget Review

About this guide: maintained by OurPower and updated regularly to reflect current SASSA structure, leadership, and contact details.