Social grants serve as a financial source for millions of unemployed South Africans to enable them to meet their basic needs.
More than 10 million people are currently receiving the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant countrywide. Meanwhile, South Africa has the hardest hit unemployment rate sitting on a new record of 35.3%.
SASSA is appealing to grant beneficiaries to change payment methods and keep this detail up to date to ensure payments reach them in time.
Changing Your SRD Grant Payment Method Process
- Go to srd.sassa.gov.za
- Scroll to “How do I change my banking details”
- Verify the SRD account with your ID number.
- An SMS containing a reliable link, specific to you, will be sent to the mobile phone number with which you registered when you applied for the SRD.
- Click on the link in the SMS and follow the instructions carefully to update your details.
It is crucial to note that Sassa will not pay your grant money into another person’s banking account. This simply means you must provide your own personal bank account details.
Available Payment Options
There are multiple options available for you to choose from for collecting your R350 SRD grant when approved.
- Personal bank account
- CashSend to mobile services
- Supermarkets (Checkers, Pick n Pay, Boxer Stores, USave, OK, and Shoprite stores)
SASSA discontinued issuing SRD payments at the Post Office due to technical reasons and also to reduce long queues for other beneficiaries at the branches.
Switching Your SASSA Grant Payment to the Supermarket Money Account
Retail chains are prolific across South Africa, offering a convenient solution for the vast number of social grant recipients looking for easy access to their funds.
Every month, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) disburses permanent grants to over 18 million citizens. These beneficiaries have multiple collection options at their disposal.
Among these options is the convenience of collecting from retail outlets including Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Boxer, USave, and Checkers. You can opt to receive your grant at these stores across the country.
Advantages of Using the Retail Money Account:
- The Retail Money Account boasts the title of the most affordable transactional bank account in South Africa. There are no monthly fees. However, a R5 charge applies to every withdrawal.
- You’ll enjoy zero fees for purchasing airtime, data, and electricity, forwarding grocery vouchers, settling bills, or making grocery payments via your mobile devices.
- On the first deposit of a SASSA grant worth R800 or more into the Money Market Account, beneficiaries receive some supermarket vouchers up to R100.
- With over 25,000 till points spread across these retail outlets, you can bypass the traditionally lengthy lines at Post Office branches during grant payout days.
Switching to a Bank Account
This is the most preferred SRD payment method because money reaches your bank account directly, to withdraw or spend wisely.
By following the above payment method steps, choose ‘bank details’ in the options and carefully enter your new banking details (bank name, account number, and branch code) to update your SRD grant information.
Once confirmed and submitted, SASSA will take up to 7 business working days to update your details. A confirmation SMS will sent to your grant cellphone number with the status of the process.
When you receive the approved notification, you must verify the details on the SRD website.
Why change the SASSA SRD payment method?
Here are some of the reasons you might want to change your grant payment methods:
- Accessibility and Convenience: SASSA aimed to make payments more accessible and convenient for beneficiaries. Changing payment methods could mean that recipients receive their funds directly into bank accounts, for example, which could save them from traveling to physical payout points.
- Combatting Fraud: There have been instances of fraudulent activities related to the SRD grant. By updating payment methods and systems, SASSA hopes to combat fraud and ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive their grants.
- Overcrowding: Physical payout points sometimes saw large crowds, which not only posed logistical challenges but were also public health concerns, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. By adjusting payment methods, SASSA aimed to reduce overcrowding and improve social distancing.
- Cost Efficiency: Digital and automated payment methods can often be more cost-effective than manual, physical methods. By modernizing the payment system, SASSA can reduce costs associated with grant disbursement.
- Beneficiary Feedback: SASSA, like many government agencies, may adjust its methods based on feedback from the community and the beneficiaries themselves. If certain payment methods proved problematic or unpopular, the agency would be motivated to find better solutions.
- Infrastructure and Technology: As technology evolves, new payment methods and platforms become available. Adopting these can help streamline the process and make it more efficient.
- Banking Sector Partnerships: Collaborations with the banking sector might influence changes in payment methods, especially if banks offer solutions that can make the disbursement process more streamlined or more secure.
- Regulatory or Policy Changes: Sometimes, changes in national or regional policies or regulations might necessitate adjustments to the payment methods.
It’s always a good idea to check with official SASSA communications or official government announcements for the most up-to-date reasons and details related to any changes in SRD payment methods.
