SASSA Stretches Operating Hours Amid Holiday Rush and Grant Backlogs

As the festive season approaches, SASSA is keeping its doors open longer than usual, with major hubs now operating until 18h00. The move comes in response to two mounting pressures: the Postbank closure at the end of December, affecting over two million beneficiaries, and a surge in grant reviews ahead of 2026 budget cuts.

While extended hours offer some relief, many South Africans applying for grantsparticularly the Old-Age Grantare finding themselves trapped in a frustrating cycle of repeat trips and long queues.

Why Extended Hours Aren’t Enough

For applicants like Mrs. Fredericks (63), the process is exhausting. Since July 2025, she has been attempting to secure her Old-Age Grant. Each visit to SASSA requires waking at 03h00 to queue, only to be turned away for missing or incomplete documents.

SASSA’s increasingly thorough screening process is partly to blame. Applicants must now provide:

• Official ID document

• Certified bank statements for the last three months

• Documents proving marital status

• Recent proof of residence (utility bill, less than three months old)

• Details of income, assets, and property valuations

• Declaration of any private pension

In practice, this often leads to multiple trips. For example, Fredericks was asked to submit:

• A certified bank statement she initially didn’t have

• Affidavits confirming she was no longer employed

• Her late husband’s death certificate to validate asset and means limits

Understanding SASSA Means and Asset Limits

For December 2025, Old-Age Grant applicants face strict thresholds:

• Income: Less than R107,800/year (single) or R215,760/year (married)

• Monthly equivalent: R8,983 (single) or R17,980 (married)

• Assets: Maximum of R1,524,600 (single) or R3,049,200 (married)

The death certificate allows SASSA to verify with the Department of Home Affairs, while additional asset information ensures compliance with grant eligibility rules.

Extended Hours: A Necessary but Partial Fix

SASSA hopes that operating until 18h00 at major branches, like Belville in the Western Cape, will help beneficiaries navigate the Postbank account changes and backlogs. But for many, the agency’s stringent document requirements and biometric enrolment processes still make multiple visits inevitable.

GroundUp reports that new applicants are repeatedly sent away for missing documentation, reflecting the agency’s push to tighten grant reviews ahead of budget cuts.

Tips for Beneficiaries to Avoid Delays

• Gather all required documents in advance, including certified copies

• Check asset and income calculations to ensure eligibility

• Schedule visits earlier in the day to avoid long queues

• Bring your SASSA-Postbank card if switching accounts

The Public Response

Social media users express frustration over the repeated trips:

“It’s exhausting. Waking at 03h00 just to be told I’m missing one document is ridiculous.”

Yet, others acknowledge the extended hours as better than nothing:

“At least the 18h00 closing time gives working people a chance to apply.”

SASSA’s extended operating hours are a temporary relief, but thorough preparation is key. Beneficiaries must anticipate strict document verification and plan for multiple visits, especially if they are switching accounts from Postbank or applying for the Old-Age Grant for the first time.

The message is clear: come prepared or risk another long festive-season wait.

Festive Season Alert: Over Two Million SASSA-Postbank Clients Must Switch Accounts by Year-End

{Source: The South African}

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