SASSA alerts people who rely on social grants. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has noticed an alarming trend. More and more grant recipients are reporting that money is being taken from their social grants without their permission. SASSA wants you to know that these cuts are not legal. And they frequently come from insurance companies or funeral plans that the individual never agreed to. These grants enable them to buy food, pay rent, buy medicine, and care for their families. In this article, we are going to talk about what is going wrong, what the law is, and how people are getting tricked.
What is going wrong?
SASSA says they’ve received a lot of complaints. People say this when they receive grants. However, some of the money has already been spent. Most of the time, it is due to what are known as unlawful deductions. These are amounts of money deducted from your grant without your permission. Most of the time, this money is used to pay for funeral policies or insurance that you never signed up for. Or you had no idea what you were signing up for.
What the Law Says
The law states that your grant can only be used to pay for one funeral policy per month. This can only be done if you agree to it. Even so, it must be no more than 10% of your grant amount. Furthermore, not all grants allow for deductions. For instance, suppose you receive:
- A child support grant.
- A Foster Child Grant
- A Care Dependency Grant.
- A temporary disability grant.
Then no money should be deducted from it, not even for funeral policies.
How People Are Being Tricked
Some businesses go into communities and offer low-cost funeral policies or insurance. They might even say “this is part of SASSA” or “it’s for your protection.” They may ask for your ID number and other information. Later, you may discover that money is being deducted from your grant. Even if you never agreed or didn’t know what you were signing. This is not acceptable and is not legal.
How to Check Your Grant
Check your balance once a month by following these ways. Keep an eye out for any unusual deductions, particularly if they occur monthly. If something doesn’t look right, report it as soon as possible.
- Using your bank statements
- Using the ATM receipt
- Asking a trusted person to check it with you.
Hi, I’m Owen. I’m passionate about sharing the latest government aid news, benefits, and policy updates so you can stay informed and make the most of available resources. My goal is to break down complex information into clear, easy-to-understand updates that help you navigate programs and opportunities that matter to you.