SASSA operating hours at major hubs – like Belville in the Western Cape – are being extended till 18h00 for the festive season. The reason for this is twofold. Firstly, to help beneficiaries who need to swap their payment details over from Postbank, which ceases to operate at the end of the year. Secondly, due to the increase in SASSA grant reviews ahead of budget cuts in the New Year.
As such, SASSA operating hours are being maximised to the fullest for the rest of 2025. It is estimated that more than two-million SASSA-Postbank beneficiaries must still amend their payment plan before the end of the year. Plus, it has emerged that several new applicants are being forced to make repeat trips to secure their government grant. But why?
SASSA OPERATING HOURS EXTENDED
Put simply, the South African Social Security Agency urgently needs to save money ahead of 2026’s budget cuts. Therefore, SASSA grant reviews are growing stricter. And new applicants are being far more thoroughly screened than ever before.
In fact, according to GroundUp, some SASSA Old-Age Grant applicants have been trying since July 2025 to complete their applications. They gather all the paperwork necessary – according to SASSA’s eligibility criteria – but they are often sent away and told they’re missing certain documents.
THOROUGH SCREENING PROCESS
An example cited in the report is of Mrs. Fredericks (63) applying for SASSA Older Person benefits. She says she’s been sent back and forth to collect various documents for five months. Each time, she must wake up at 03h00 to be in the queue to make the SASSA operating hours.
As The South African reports on regularly, these are the documents the agency wants to see for all new SASSA Old-Age Grant applicants:
- Official identity document (ID).
- Valid three months’ statement certified by your bank.
- All documents proving marital status.
- Proof of residence (a utility bill with your name on it, not older than three months).
- Documents proving income and/or financial dividends.
- Comprehensive information regarding assets/valuation of property owned.
- A declaration of any private pension in the applicant’s name.
FESTIVE SEASON SASSA OPERATING HOURS
While that may sound straightforward in theory, Fredericks’ case proves how time consuming it can be in practice. Remember, the agency has strict income (also known as means) and asset limits. If you exceed these, you are considered ineligible for the grant.
Meeting strict SASSA operating hours, Fredericks was first told to bring a certified copy of her bank statement, which she didn’t have. Next, according to SASSA’s database, Fredericks was still listed as employed from her previous employer. Therefore, she needed to provide a signed and certified affidavit from her former employer, as well as the Department of Labour, confirming she was no longer employed.
DEATH CERTIFICATE
Lastly, she needed to bring a copy of her late husband’s death certificate in during SASSA operating hours. This was to confirm the below asset and means limits as a single person. In fairness to the agency, all of the above is clearly stated in their terms and conditions. For SASSA Older Person Grants in December 2025:
- Your income (means) must be less than R107 800 (single) or R215 760 (married) per annum.
- Per month, this is works out to R8 983 (single) or R17 980 (married).
- And your cumulative assets cannot be more than R1 524 600 (single) or R3 049 200 (married).
The death certificate of her husband allows the agency to confirm with the Department of Home Affairs that he is in fact deceased. Another common request is for more information on assets and valuations of property owned. Especially if you have bought or sold a house/property in the recent past.
But what do you think? Have you struggled with to be served within SASSA operating hours? And if you’ve been sent away, what was the reason? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below …
