Here’s the latest on SASSA grant reviews in 2026 if your financial circumstances have changed in the New Year. According to the agency’s last meeting with the parliamentary portfolio committee on social development, it’s going to turn the screws on grant recipients.
Already in 2025, SASSA was able to save an estimated R700 million by fixing basic ‘system vulnerabilities’ and eliminating tens of thousands of fraudulent/invalid clients. And frankly, it needs to continue with its aggressive SASSA grant reviews in 2026. Because this year the department’s budget falls by R14 billion, from R285 billion to R271 billion. And again in 2027, by R11 billion to R260 billion …
SASSA GRANT REVIEWS IN 2026
Therefore, the two important tools the South African Social Security Agency will use to enact these SASSA grant reviews in 2026 are income and biometric checks. Moreover, because Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grants are extended to March 2027, and have their own ‘temporary’ budget, all of these reviews will affect ‘core’ SASSA grants like Older Person, Disability and Childcare.
It used to be that the agency gave you a three-month lead time before your grant was investigated. However, SASSA grant reviews in 2026 are immediate. If agency suspects your financial circumstances have changed, your grant payments will be suspended until a thorough investigation is complete. If and when you’ve proven you comply with the grant’s specific income and asset (where applicable) needs, your deferred payment will be reprocessed.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
As The South African has reported previously, candidates for SASSA grant reviews in 2026 receive a text message. In most cases, the agency’s sophisticated database cross-referencing has picked up an additional/new source of income. In one instance, a recipient of R560 SASSA Child Support was forced to payback five months of grants because she had since started a new job and was, therefore, no longer eligible.
The mother was told to report to a SASSA branch office as soon as possible. And bring a recent bank statement, work payslip and valid copies of her and her child’s identification. In turn, the agency offered her TWO options to repay the money. She could either pay the lumpsum in full, or spread the repayment over six months accruing interest with a debit order. Of course, this option cost her more than she had initially received.
MAKE REPAYMENT AFTER SASSA GRANT REVIEWS IN 2026
Click HERE to confirm the income and asset requirements for Older Person Grants. Click HERE to confirm income requirements for Children’s grants. Besides the amount to be repaid after a review, SASSA provides three means to repay money:
- In-person at any SASSA branch office.
- Bank transfers to SASSA regional accounts.
- Debit orders arranged through the beneficiaries’ bank.
So, our advice to avoid SASSA grant reviews in 2026 is make sure your personal contact details are up to date with the agency. Even something small like a change of phone number or address. You don’t want to give them any excuse to question your account. Always keep an eye on official SASSA communications and ensure you’re aware of your grant’s exact eligibility requirements.
But what do you think? Do you need any help understanding your SASSA grant? Be sure to drop a comment down below and we’ll try help …
