The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has opted to open up its payment dates earlier, due to mounting pressure from beneficiaries who missed their early December pay date. Ministerial spokesperson, Kgomoco Diseko said that beneficiaries should not be confused by the early payment date and explained that the payment cycle for every month is from the 1st day of the month.

“Even of the 1st is on a holiday, all grants will be paid out from the 1st until the 16th of the month. What people need to understand is that under normal circumstances, SASSA expects all beneficiaries to draw their money every month,” added Diseko.

If monies have not been drawn for three months in succession, SASSA will suspend the grant and the beneficiary will have to explain or have a valid reason as to why the suspension should be lifted from a particular person’s grant or pension.

Diseko said the problem arose during the early payment. SASSA paid recipients of grants and pensions early due to the fact that all facilities are full due to the Christmas rush.

“We wanted our people to do their shopping ahead of the rush and then be done as shops started to fill up and what we did as a gesture of goodwill; we paid people their December payments payouts on the 27th of November until the 13th of December,” said Diseko.

He added that those people who have not collected their monies can do so during the next pay\pay date\payment cycle starting from the 1st of January 2015 until the 16 of January 2015.

Diseko explains that only people who did notget paid or collect their monies during the early cycle will get both December and January’s monies.

Those who are as a result of the non payment need to be assisted can do so by visiting their offices or calling the toll free number (0800 60 10 11) in order to be assisted to either get food parcels or vouchers to purchase food.

Furthermore, beneficiaries are urged to spend their money wisely and should not allow anyone to be in possession of any beneficiaries card, pin or banking details. VOC (Imogen Vollenhoven)