As millions of vulnerable individuals rely on the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant for financial support, Sassa issues a cautionary note regarding unauthorized websites offering a “Sassa status check” service.
Sassa, the South African Social Security Agency, has raised concerns over beneficiaries attempting to verify their SRD grant status on websites not affiliated with the official Sassa platform. This warning comes amidst reports of fraudulent websites falsely representing themselves as grant payment agencies and collecting beneficiary information.
The SRD grant stands as the primary financial assistance for unemployed adults in South Africa, providing vital support worth R370 per month. Monthly, numerous individuals apply for this grant, prompting Sassa to conduct thorough verification checks to ensure eligibility and facilitate payments.
Once Sassa completes these checks, beneficiaries are encouraged to access the official SRD grant website to ascertain their approval status. However, beneficiaries are urged to exercise caution and refrain from using fake websites offering a supposed “Sassa status check” service. Such actions could potentially expose them to fraudulent activities and compromise personal information.
Sassa emphasizes the importance of utilizing only official websites, which invariably end with .gov.za, for conducting status checks or entering personal details. The agency highlights the risk of identity theft scams associated with sharing sensitive information on unauthorized platforms.
To perform a secure Sassa SRD status check:
- Visit the official Sassa SRD status website.
- Fill in your ID number and the cellphone number used during your grant application.
- Proceed to check the progress of your grant application.
- As an added security measure, you may receive a Sassa status pin, which should be entered to access your final results.
Sassa assures beneficiaries that updates on grant application status will be communicated via the provided phone number.
In the event of a declined SRD grant application, beneficiaries retain the right to appeal the decision, ensuring fair consideration of their circumstances.
This warning underscores the significance of vigilance and adherence to official channels in safeguarding personal information and ensuring the integrity of grant applications.