Pretoria: The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has encouraged all Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant beneficiaries to ensure that they complete an identity verification process. SASSA Mpumalanga spokesperson Senzeni Ngubeni emphasized the importance of this step in a statement issued on Friday, urging beneficiaries to comply to avoid any delays in receiving their grants.

According to South African Government News Agency, Ngubeni stated that there is no shortcut in the process and beneficiaries must adhere to the verification requirement to prevent the disappointment of not receiving their grant. The identity verification status message typically arises when the agency suspects fraudulent activity or finds discrepancies in contact and banking details.

Beneficiaries receiving this status should verify their identity at local SASSA offices or through the website http://srd.sassa.gov.za. Ngubeni noted that clients will receive a link via SMS during this process, which must be attended to within 72 hours. He also advised that to prevent fraudulent activity, beneficiaries should protect their personal details and avoid seeking assistance from strangers.

SASSA’s online platforms and service offices are accessible for assistance to beneficiaries and those making inquiries. To apply for SRD grants, applicants must meet specific criteria: they must be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees registered with Home Affairs, be over 18 years of age, unemployed, not receiving any other grant, and not residing in a government-funded institution.

Beneficiaries are encouraged to use online platforms for applying for social grants or to visit SASSA offices. For more information, they can contact the toll-free number during working hours at 0800 60 10 11 or via WhatsApp at 082 046 8553.