The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA/the Agency) in the Gauteng Region has noted with concern recent allegations of beneficiaries being misled into signing documents that may have resulted in unauthorised policy deductions from their social grants.
This includes a social media video in which a senior citizen in Gauteng alleges she was deceived into completing documents which led to the aforementioned deductions.
The Agency views these allegations in a serious light, as they point to possible exploitation of vulnerable beneficiaries and undermine public trust in the social assistance system. SASSA reiterates that it does not work with any insurance or funeral company to enrol beneficiaries into financial products without their full knowledge and informed consent.
“SASSA in Gauteng continues to receive enquiries from beneficiaries reporting unexplained deductions from their grants, often attributed to insurance or funeral service providers. The Agency emphasises that any such deductions must be lawful, transparent, and based on the informed consent of the beneficiary,” the regional office said in a statement.
In terms of Regulation 29 of the Social Assistance Act, only one deduction not exceeding 10% of a beneficiary’s grant may be permitted for a funeral policy issued by a registered insurer, and only where valid consent has been provided by the beneficiary. No deductions are permitted on child-related grants, including the Child Support Grant, Foster Child Grant, Temporary Disability Grant and Care Dependency Grant.
Beneficiaries who suspect that they have been tricked or have not consented to any deductions are urged to report the matter at their nearest SASSA local office for investigation. They may also dispute the deductions by sending an SMS to 34548, including their ID number and the name of the service provider. Beneficiaries are further advised to contact the relevant company directly to cancel any unauthorised policies.
SASSA in Gauteng remains committed to protecting beneficiaries from fraud, misinformation, and unethical practices. Ongoing awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagements are being intensified to educate beneficiaries on their rights and to prevent exploitation.
The Agency calls on beneficiaries to exercise caution when approached to sign documents and to seek clarity before consenting to any agreements related to their social grants. Members of the public are further advised that SASSA operates from established and recognised offices across Gauteng and does not deploy officials to conduct door-to-door.
