The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has said that starting in February 2026, all grant recipients will have to register with their fingerprints. The new requirement is meant to create a national program that will improve the way social grants work by using better ways to verify people’s identities and cut down on fraud. Beneficiaries who don’t finish biometric registration will have to wait longer for their grant payments and may even have their payments stopped.
Why SASSA Is Using Biometric Verification
Biometric registration is the answer to problems with the current grant system, such as identity theft, multiple payment requests, and unauthorised access to payments. SASSA checks the fingerprints and faces of people who are eligible to get grants. The system replaces old ways of checking that are more likely to be misused.
Who Needs to Register Biometrically
All SASSA grant recipients, including older people, people with disabilities, people who get child support grants, people who get care dependency grants, and others, must meet the biometric requirement. Beneficiaries who are already receiving benefits and those who are applying for benefits will both need to follow the rules. Beneficiaries must go through identity re-verification again after they change their personal or banking information in the new system.
There will be certain steps to follow for registration.
SASSA offices and other official registration centers that have been given permission to do so must do biometric registration. While beneficiaries are having their faces scanned, the process will also involve taking their fingerprints. The system will use biometric data to create permanent links with grant profiles. This will confirm the user’s identity when they make future payments. SASSA will hire more staff and provide more resources to meet the higher demand from customers during the system implementation phase.
Deadlines and Payment Effects
SASSA has said that people who don’t finish biometric registration by the deadline may have their payments temporarily stopped. Before any payments can be made again, the biometric verification process must be finished. Beneficiaries need to finish their registration as soon as possible to avoid any delays in payments because the monthly payment schedule is coming up soon.
How to Keep Yourself Safe from Scams
The start of biometric verification system operations will create new chances for fraud, so beneficiaries need to keep an eye on things. SASSA will never ask users for their biometric data over the phone, in text messages, or from unofficial representatives. Beneficiaries must register their identity at official centers, and they should get updates through SASSA communications that have been verified.
