SASSA to get rid of 690 000 child support beneficiaries

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) needs to lower the number of people getting a child support grant.

To do this, it’s verifying income.

If parents want to keep getting the grant, their income can’t increase.

Otherwise, they will become just another number in SASSA’s race to drop thousands of beneficiaries.

SASSA Slashing Child Support Grants

The agency recently went after a mother for R31 000.

Her income was only slightly above the cut-off.

But child support beneficiaries should expect this to continue.

Why?

The agency must lower the number of child support beneficiaries by 696 000 before 2028.

SASSA gets social grant money from the National Treasury.

In the 2026 Budget, Treasury told SASSA to improve its vetting process.

If SASSA does that, it could get more money for social grants.

If not, the agency will lose out.

According to the National Treasury, SASSA must reduce the number of child support grant beneficiaries by 696 000.

In 2026, they want 248 000 beneficiaries off the books.

In 2027, they want another 232 000 gone.

Then, in 2028, Treasury wants the agency to lower the number by another 216 000 beneficiaries.

Some beneficiaries will leave naturally because their child turns 18.

But 696 000 South Africans won’t turn 18 between now and 2028.

How SASSA Plans to Do It

The plan, it appears, is for SASSA to enforce income requirements strictly.

To get a child support grant, a single parent can’t make more than R69 600 a year or R5 800 a month.

Married parents can’t make more than R139 200 together (R11 600 a month).

The agency is using banking details to find beneficiaries who don’t meet the requirement.

SASSA can access every bank account in a beneficiary’s name.

So, those who think they can hide extra money from the agency will find out they can’t.

An Extra R100 Could Take You Off the List

SASSA wants to enforce its means test strictly.

It will use biometric data and digital verification tools.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will also help vet grant beneficiaries.

Even if you go over the threshold by R100, your grant could be at risk.

You may not be taken off the list now.

When the agency went after a mother for R31 000, she had been receiving a grant for 4 years, despite being over the limit.

R370 SRD Grant

Child support grant beneficiaries aren’t the only target.

Beneficiaries of the social relief of distress (SRD) could come under fire.

In the 2026 budget, Treasury shows it also wants to reduce the SRD grant budget.

It budgeted R36.8 billion for the grant in 2026.

But according to the full budget brief, the amount will be R1.72 billion in 2027.

By 2028, Treasury only wants to budget R1.2 billion for the grant.

If they do this, they’re putting 8 million South Africans at risk.

SRD Budget