The South African Social Security Agency has announced January 2026 grant payment dates. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has announced the payment schedule for social grants in January 2026, while reiterating the importance of beneficiary biometric verification as a key safeguard against fraud. According to SASSA, Older Persons’ Grants will be paid from Tuesday, January 6, 2026, followed by Disability Grants on Wednesday, January 7, and children’s grants on Thursday, January 8.
The agency said payments will be made through the usual channels, including bank accounts and approved pay points. SASSA stressed that beneficiaries must ensure their personal details are up to date to avoid disruptions. “Beneficiary biometric verification is a security measure used to confirm the identity of individuals through their unique biological traits like fingerprints or facial recognition,” the agency said.
It added that these traits are verified by comparing them with records captured by the Department of Home Affairs when an identity document was issued. The agency said the verification process is designed to protect public funds and ensure that grants reach the correct recipients. “This process helps prevent identity theft, fraud and the misuse of social assistance,” SASSA said.
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SASSA also reminded beneficiaries about COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) payment dates for December 2025, which ran from December 19 to 24, 2025. Addressing common concerns around declined SRD applications, SASSA explained that applications may be rejected if employment or another source of income is detected. “If employment or source of income is identified through the external sources databases inclusive of financial institutions (banks), the application may be declined,” the agency said.
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