SASSA has confirmed the social grant schedule for September 2025. Below you’ll find the official dates, how SRD works this month, where you can collect or withdraw, and practical fixes for “pending/declined” issues, banking changes, phone number updates, and disputes.

SASSA payment dates — September 2025

SASSA again reminds beneficiaries not to rush on day 1; your money stays in your account until you need it.

What about the SRD (R370) grant?

SRD is paid later in the month and reflects once your monthly verification clears. For context, SRD August 2025 payments ran 27–30 Aug; September follows the same “late‑month” pattern and you must check your personal status for the exact day.

Tip: Always check your personal status on the official SRD portal (srd.sassa.gov.za) for your exact SRD pay day. (See “How to check & fix ‘Pending’” below.)

What’s new in September 2025

• Biometric enrolment starts: From 1 September 2025, SASSA offices are rolling out mandatory Beneficiary Biometric Enrolment (fingerprint or facial eKYC) for new approvals and reviews to reduce fraud and inclusion errors. If your application shows “referred” for ID checks, complete the verification to resume payment.
• Payments continue despite Postbank contract changes: SASSA confirmed it will terminate the Master Service Agreement with Postbank on 30 Sep 2025, but payments will continue as beneficiaries are paid into the bank of their choice. Existing Postbank accounts remain usable as normal bank accounts.

Where and how to collect or withdraw your grant

You do not need to queue at a pay point. You can use any of these convenient options:

1. Retailers (cash back at the till):
   Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay and Boxer support cash withdrawals (cashback) and card purchases. This has been the official contingency channel during prior system issues and remains widely available.
2. ATMs / POS: Use your SASSA Gold or Postbank Black card at ATMs or card machines nationwide. Retail cash‑back is often cheaper than ATMs.
3. Bank account of your choice: If you receive your grant into your personal bank account, it lands there automatically on/after your pay day. Note that normal bank fees may apply depending on your bank.

Gold card vs Black card (2025): There was confusion early in 2025, but by late April 2025, officials confirmed Gold Cards remain operational beyond 31 May 2025 while replacement continues so beneficiaries were not required to rush to switch. (Postbank still runs ongoing Black Card issuing at major retailers.) Always check the latest announcements before travelling.

SASSA contacts (official)

• WhatsApp: 082 046 8553 – status checks, FAQs, and menu options.
• Call centre (toll‑free): 0800 60 10 11 (Mon – Fri).
• SRD portal: srd.sassa.gov.za (status, contact/banking updates).
• Appeals portal (ITSAA): srd.dsd.gov.za (monthly SRD appeals).

Disputes: unlawful deductions & how to stop them

If money is disappearing from your grant without your permission:

• Only one deduction is allowed per month, up to 10% of your grant value, and only for a funeral policy you consented to. Anything else is unlawful.
• Dispute by SMS: Send an SMS to 34548 with your ID number and the name of the financial services provider to trigger an investigation. You can also report at your nearest SASSA office.

How to change your phone number (SRD & other alerts)

If you’ve lost your SIM or changed numbers and no longer get OTPs:

1. Go to the official SRD portal (srd.sassa.gov.za) and use the contact details section to update your cellphone number.
2. Complete OTP verification on the new number.
3. If you can’t access the portal (no phone/ID issues), call 0800 60 10 11 or visit a SASSA office for assisted verification.
   SASSA urges beneficiaries to regularly verify contact details on the portal to prevent scams and misdirected OTPs.

How to change your banking details (SRD or main grants)

• Update banking on the SRD portal (srd.sassa.gov.za). The account must be in your own name; third‑party accounts often fail verification.
• After any change, wait for bank verification to finish before changing again. Frequent switching delays payment.
• SASSA verifies citizenship/Home Affairs, UIF status and bank income—so pending/failed checks are normal if details don’t match.

Free transactions on the SASSA/Postbank card: Postbank lists several free or low‑cost transactions (e.g., some retail cash‑backs, Post Office counters, balance enquiry allowances) each month use retailer cash‑back where possible to minimise fees.

“Why is my SRD still pending?” (and how to fix it)

“Pending” usually means SASSA hasn’t finished one or more monthly checks:

• Identity verification (Home Affairs match)
• UIF/Employment checks
• Bank account & income verification
  When these are incomplete, your status shows Pending; once cleared, the month is assessed and paid if you qualify.

Fixes that work:

• Verify identity promptly (online or at your local SASSA office if your status shows “referred”). SASSA emphasises there’s no shortcut do the ID verification to avoid delays.
• Ensure your bank account is in your name and details exactly match your ID record (see banking section above).

“Approved, then suddenly declined” what happened?

SRD is assessed every month. Even if you were approved previously, you can be declined for a specific month if new checks show you don’t qualify for that month. Common triggers include:

• Income above the SRD means‑test for the assessed month (the benchmark used in policy and draft/updated regs is the food poverty line of R624 per month).
• Records showing you receive another grant/benefit or are UIF registered.
• Identity data not matching Home Affairs, or a fraud flag requiring biometric/eKYC.

Action: If you disagree, appeal for that specific month via the Independent Tribunal (ITSAA). Appeals are monthly and must be lodged promptly after the decision (use the ITSAA site; if you missed a window, a condonation form exists for late appeals).

How to appeal a declined SRD month (step‑by‑step)

1. Go to the ITSAA appeals site: srd.dsd.gov.za.
2. Log in with your ID number and the cellphone used on your SRD application.
3. Select the month you are appealing.
4. Choose the reason and submit.
   Important: Appeals are handled by the Independent Tribunal, not SASSA; you must appeal each declined month separately.

Where to get or replace a Postbank Black Card

Postbank issues Black Cards at sites inside major retailers (e.g., Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay, Boxer) across all provinces, with weekly site lists published (take your SA ID or temporary ID).

Find a site near you: Postbank and government advisories regularly publish updated store lists and outreach notices check the latest list before you travel.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1) What time do funds reflect?
Once paid by SASSA, bank clearing times vary by bank and channel. If your status shows “paid” but you don’t see funds, allow for clearing and check again via ATM/retailer balance or your bank app.

2) Can I collect SRD at the Post Office?
SRD is not paid at Post Office counters during the normal monthly grant run. Use your bank account, retail partners, or cash‑send options where available.

3) My status is “referred/identity verification.” What now?
Complete the ID verification (online or at SASSA). Once “resolved,” SASSA says you’ll be paid from the next cycle, and historic months are paid according to the schedule.

4) Will SRD continue after March 2025?
Yes. In the 2025 Budget Speech, government announced SRD (R370) would be extended to March 2026 while broader social security reforms are finalised.

5) Are Gold Cards still valid?
Officials confirmed in late April 2025 that Gold Cards continue to work beyond 31 May 2025, even as Black Cards are rolled out. (There were earlier deactivation notices in March, later superseded.) Always check the latest local notice before travelling.

Safety checklist for pay day

• Protect your PIN and never share OTPs; Postbank warns of active card/OTP scams targeting beneficiaries at home.
• Use retailer cash‑back instead of ATMs where possible to save on fees and reduce risk.
• If your phone/number changes, update it on the SRD portal immediately.