The SASSA Grant Review, and How to Pass It

What is a grant review?

A social grant review is a process SASSA runs to update your information and confirm that you still meet the eligibility criteria for social assistance. It checks two things: that your circumstances still qualify you, and that the personal details on file are up to date.

SASSA may send a courtesy communication inviting you to reassess your circumstances and present yourself for a review. It is not an accusation — it is the routine recheck that keeps payments correct.

Which documents does a review ask for?

1. Certified copy of a valid 13-digit barcoded ID for you and your spouse. If you have been issued a new ID number, bring the previous one too.
2. Proof of marital status.
3. Three months of bank statements for all active accounts — including fixed deposit and investment accounts — for you and your spouse.
4. Proof of employment and earnings, and the date employment started or ended, for you and your spouse.
5. A valid court order or extension order, for Foster Child Grant beneficiaries.
6. Proof of residential and postal address — a utility bill, or a letter from a landlord, chief or councillor.
7. A rates and taxes certificate for any property you own but do not occupy.
8. Proof of any other income received by you or your spouse.

The list overlaps with a first application but is not identical — the previous ID number, the address proof and the rates certificate are review-specific. The application lists are on documents and qualifying criteria.

What must I tell SASSA without being asked?

Reporting a change is your responsibility, not something to wait for a review to surface. You are expected to tell SASSA, proactively and voluntarily, when any of these change:

• Your financial position
• Your marital status
• Your physical address
• Your email address or other contact details
• Alternative care arrangements for the child a grant is intended for
• A change of the primary caregiver

You must also respond promptly to any communication from SASSA, including a request to present yourself or to provide more information. At the original application you were required to give an honest and complete declaration of all income and assets — that declaration is the basis on which your grant amount was worked out, so a change to it changes the amount.

What is e-Life certification?

e-Life certification is a self-service digital platform that lets you complete your life certification from home instead of going to an office. It confirms you are alive and still entitled to the grant.

Where to do it

Through the SASSA Online Services portal at https://services.sassa.gov.za, which uses secure biometric verification through the electronic Know Your Client (eKYC) system.

Who it is for

Beneficiaries who have the means to use it, and those authorised by SASSA to do so. Anyone who cannot use it completes life certification the usual way.

Keep your details current and respond promptly, and payment disruptions are far less likely. If someone manages your grant on your behalf, see collecting a grant for someone else.

What happens if I ignore a review notice?

Do not ignore it. Failing to undergo a review where your circumstances have changed can result in the suspension of the grant. Lack of cooperation during a review is itself listed as a ground for suspension.

If a grant is suspended because a review was not completed, you have 30 days from the suspension to apply for restoration. The full sequence is set out on suspension, lapsing and restoration.

Common questions