SASSA warns of fraudulent grant deductions in Gauteng

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Gauteng has issued a warning to beneficiaries to exercise caution when approached to sign documents related to their social grants.

The agency on Friday raised concern over allegations that some beneficiaries have been misled into signing documents that resulted in unauthorised deductions, particularly for insurance or funeral policies.

The warning follows a circulating video on TikTok in which an elderly Gauteng resident claims she was deceived into completing paperwork that led to deductions from her grant.

SASSA emphasised that it operates strictly from recognised offices and does not send officials door-to-door to engage with beneficiaries. It cautioned the public to verify any requests for personal information or signatures before agreeing to anything.

The agency described the allegations as serious, noting that they suggest possible exploitation of vulnerable individuals and risk damaging trust in the social assistance system.

“SASSA reiterates that it does not work with any insurance or funeral company to enrol beneficiaries into financial products without their full knowledge and informed consent,” the agency said.

The agency further noted that it continues to receive complaints from beneficiaries about unexplained deductions, often linked to insurance or funeral service providers. It stressed that any deductions must be lawful, transparent, and authorised by the beneficiary.

In terms of Regulation 29 of the Social Assistance Act, only one deduction capped at 10% of a grant is allowed for a funeral policy issued by a registered insurer, and only with valid consent. No deductions are permitted on child-related grants, including the Child Support Grant, Foster Child Grant, Temporary Disability Grant, and Care Dependency Grant.

SASSA has urged beneficiaries who suspect fraud or unauthorised deductions to report the matter at their nearest office for investigation. They can also dispute deductions by sending an SMS with their ID number and the service provider’s name to 34548, and are encouraged to contact the relevant companies directly to cancel any unauthorised policies.