Zuko Komisa
- Payments commence with Older Persons’ Grants on 6 January, followed by Disability on 7 January and Children’s on 8 January.
- Mandatory fingerprint and facial recognition checks, verified via Home Affairs, are being enforced to eliminate identity theft and fraud.
- Beneficiaries whose Social Relief of Distress applications were declined due to detected income are encouraged to lodge formal appeals.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has confirmed the official payment dates for social grants in January 2026, alongside a renewed appeal for beneficiaries to comply with biometric verification protocols to combat fraud.
To ensure an orderly distribution of funds, SASSA has staggered the payment dates for the first week of the new year:
- Older Persons’ Grants: Tuesday, 6 January 2026
- Disability Grants: Wednesday, 7 January 2026
- Children’s Grants: Thursday, 8 January 2026
Payments will continue to be processed through established channels, including direct bank transfers and authorised retail pay points. The agency has urged recipients to ensure their personal information is current to prevent any unnecessary delays in receiving their funds.
A central focus of the agency’s latest briefing was the mandatory biometric verification process. This security measure utilises unique biological markers, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, to confirm a recipient’s identity.
By cross-referencing these traits with Department of Home Affairs records, SASSA aims to safeguard public funds.
“This process helps prevent identity theft, fraud, and the misuse of social assistance,”
Regarding the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, SASSA clarified that applications are often declined if external databases or financial institutions detect an alternative source of income.
Unsuccessful applicants retain the right to appeal these decisions if they believe the rejection was made in error, provided their submitted information is accurate.
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