Sassa steps in to help those who missed gold

THE SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) has intervened on behalf of social grant beneficiaries who failed to meet the December 14 deadline for changing over to the new gold Sassa card.

Sassa regional spokesperson Shivani Wahab said about 370 000 beneficiaries were affected.

“This was because the white Sassa cards expire in December and beneficiaries were urged to obtain the new cards by this month,” Wahab said.

Wahab said in terms of the arrangement Sassa made with the SA Post Office and its banking partner, beneficiaries with old Sassa cards would now be able to collect their January grants, which would be available at ATMs and stores from Friday next week.

She said the cash pay points would pay from January 3 onwards according to areas’ respective schedules.

“The January 2019 and subsequent grants will not be available on the old, expired cards.

“What beneficiaries have to do is to visit Sassa offices with their ID books and collect their new cards.

“They can use the new cards to collect their January 2019 grants.”

Sassa acting chief executive Abraham Mahlangu said they had to put their “heads together to come up with a working solution because social assistance is a constitutional right.”

Beneficiaries who want to receive their grants through their private bank accounts do not need to get the new Sassa card.

This category of beneficiaries don’t need to apply for the new card and they will continue to receive their grants via their private bank accounts.

Mahlangu said the new card did not allow any deductions to go through, and beneficiaries could enjoy benefits such as one free withdrawal at post offices each month and free balance enquiries at stores with point-of-sale machines.

Beneficiaries are urged to keep their PIN numbers secret and not to respond to suspicious offers made on social media. If unsure about any messages they receive, particularly on their phones, they should enquire at 0800 601 011.

What beneficiaries have to do is to visit Sassa offices with their ID books and collect their new cards Shivani Wahab Sassa spokesperson