This holds true for the South African Social Security Agency, which, by the announcement of the following year, 2025, will phase out the usage of gold cards for making grant payments.
So that millions of beneficiaries across the country using gold cards to receive their monthly social grants will have to change their payment options before being further affected. This is, however, in line with efforts to enhance security and efficiency within the social grant payment system.
The Reason behind SASSA Phasing out the Gold Cards
The spate of undermining issues regarding card security, fraud prevention, and dormant cards has come on the heels of a decision to put a stop to SASSA gold cards. Many gold cards are expiring in 2025, and the Postbank, which has been administering grant disbursements through these cards, will stop the issue and support of the card after 2025. This, therefore, is expected to streamline payments and commercialize the task of administration.
What Beneficiaries Must Do
Beneficiaries must change their payment method as soon as possible to avoid delays to grant payment. The first thing to do is to go to a SASSA office or other designated venue and verify their identity and update the banking details on their profile. Beneficiaries may also want their grants to be paid directly into their bank accounts with any registered commercial bank of their choice.
When updating their details, beneficiaries should take with them their ID, proof of residence, and either a bank statement or a letter confirming the account details from their bank. Once verification has been completed, SASSA will link the bank account details to that person’s grant profile, making sure payments go through smoothly.
When Changes Will Be Implemented
Though there is no nationwide set date for shutting down SASSA gold cards, many of these will expire in the April to June 2025 slot. Beneficiaries are advised not to wait until the last minute, as the transition process may take several days to complete. Therefore, failing to act amiss will mean that some will miss or have their grant payments delayed.
The update is necessary to ensure that vulnerable citizens receive the financial support they need. Keeping abreast of developments and following the procedures to object to the payment details will shield the beneficiaries from possible disruptions in 2025.