SASSA Payments Delayed October 2025 : Thousands of South AfricanS held SASSA grant-dependent persons found frustrated in October 2025 due to payment delays caused by biometric verification checks. Now it is evident that more than 200,000 beneficiaries suffered these effects directly, seeing grants temporarily held up pending confirmation of their identities.
SASSA grants such as old-age pension, disability grant, and child support grant are really a lifeline to many families to keep food on the table. Any delay in paying such grants, even for a couple of days, exerts enough pressure on those families already grappling with increasing living costs.
What Is Causing These Delays?
The delays come as part of SASSA’s biometric-verification system ongoing procurement procedure through which beneficiaries must confirm their identity by means of fingerprint and facial recognition. The Agency instituted this procedure in an attempt to address the issue of fraud and unlawful deductions and thus ensure that the grants reach the right people.
With the intent of tightening security measures, the system itself has slowed payment to thousands of persons. Some of these persons were not able to complete their biometric verification within the time frame; others were met with technical glitches at the pay points and post offices.
Who Is Affected?
According to SASSA, this delay has affected more than 200,000 beneficiaries throughout South Africa, especially those who have recently re-registered or had their grants under review. This includes:
- Old-age pensioners waiting to receive their monthly grants of R2,315.
- Disabled grant holders awaiting their payments of R2,090.
- Families dependent on child support grants of R530 per child.
For these households, any delay may prevent them from purchasing food, transport, or school-related expenses.
What Should Beneficiaries Do?
SASSA urges the beneficiaries to:
- Check their status online via the SASSA SRD website or official WhatsApp channel.
- Go to their nearest SASSA office if their grant status shows as pending verification.
- Comply with biometric requirements to avoid yet more delays.
Beneficiaries have had their biometric data checks completed and should be paid within a few days.
Will Future Payments Be Delayed?
SASSA has assured the public that, once the biometric verification backlog is cleared, payments will be made on a regular schedule. The agency also reminded beneficiaries that this system is to protect them from fraudsters who had been thus far stealing millions through unlawful deductions and identity theft.
Also Read: Old Age Pension Increase 2025: How To Apply For The R2,090 Monthly SASSA Grant