The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has warned senior citizens aged 75 and older, as well as people with disabilities, about a social media scam falsely claiming they will receive an additional R500 payment.

SASSA Mpumalanga spokesperson Senzeni Ngubeni clarified that the grant-in-aid is not a separate grant but an additional payment for those already receiving older persons, disability, or war veteran grants and needing full-time care.

Grant-in-Aid Eligibility Criteria:

✔ Must already receive a qualifying grant.
✔ Requires regular care due to physical or mental disabilities.
✔ Cannot be receiving a state subsidy while in an institution.
✔ Must undergo a medical assessment confirming disability.

The grant-in-aid is R530 per month and is paid alongside the main social grant. Payments can be collected in cash, through a bank or Postbank account, or via an authorized institution.

Ngubeni urged beneficiaries to verify information through official SASSA platforms and avoid sharing personal details. Suspicious activity should be reported to SASSA or the police. Beneficiaries unable to collect their grant can appoint a trusted procurator or use power of attorney.