SASSA forces biometric enrollment for Old‑Age Grants starting Sep 2025

When SASSA rolled out mandatory biometric enrollment on 1 September 2025, millions of retirees suddenly found themselves queuing at local offices for fingerprint or facial scans.

The change, announced by Temba Matlou, CEO of SASSA, is being billed as the agency’s toughest push yet against grant‑fraud – especially cases involving forged green identity documents.

Here’s the thing: the Old‑Age Grant (OAG) payment for September 2025 stayed at R2,330 for those over 75 and R2,310 for the 60‑74 age bracket, with the payout hitting accounts on Tuesday, 2 September. The amount didn’t budge, but the way you qualify for it did.

Background and Policy Shift

South Africa’s social‑welfare safety net has long relied on paper‑based verification. Over the past decade, the Department of Social Development and SASSA have grappled with a rising tide of fraudulent claims – a problem compounded by counterfeit IDs and “ghost” beneficiaries.

In June 2025, SASSA launched a sweeping review of all grant recipients who reported additional income or whose documentation triggered red flags. Those under review received an SMS prompting an in‑person verification at the nearest SASSA office. To avoid penalising honest claimants, the agency introduced a fourth monthly payment slot, ensuring funds would still be available even if a review delayed the regular payout.

The September biometric rollout is the logical next step. "Biometrics is all in the name of improving systems to detect and root out any fraudulent social grants," Matlou told reporters. "We want to make SASSA resilient against manipulation and error."

What the Biometric Enrollment Looks Like

From the first day of September, anyone applying for a new OAG – or any existing beneficiary flagged for review – must appear at a SASSA agency office. The process takes about ten minutes: a staff member captures the applicant’s fingerprint and a facial scan, links it to the national ID number, and stores the data on a secure server.

The new system is powered by a vendor‑supplied platform that encrypts biometric templates and cross‑checks them against the Department of Home Affairs database in real‑time. If the algorithm detects a mismatch, the claim is paused pending manual investigation.

For retirees who lack the mobility to travel, SASSA has deployed mobile units in 12 provinces, but these units still require in‑person engagement – no online shortcuts.

Below is a quick rundown of the enrollment steps:

• Gather your original green ID and proof of residence.
• Visit the nearest SASSA office between 08:00‑16:00 on a weekday.
• Provide your signature, have your fingerprints taken, and sit for a brief facial scan.
• Receive a confirmation SMS with a reference number.
• Continue to receive your OAG on the scheduled payment date.

Reactions from Beneficiaries and Experts

Opinions are split. Some retirees, like 68‑year‑old Maureen Khoza from Durban, welcomed the move: "If it stops the thieves getting my money, I’m all for it. The line was long, but I felt safer afterward."

Others worry about accessibility. Disability advocate Phumzile Mthembu of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities warned, "Older adults with mobility issues may struggle to reach the offices, and the agency must ensure transport support."

Security analyst David Khumalo of Insight Africa noted, "Biometrics is a proven deterrent; South Africa’s fraud loss in the grants system was estimated at R5 billion last year. Cutting that in half would free up resources for health and education."

Interestingly, the data shows a 12 % dip in new grant applications during the first two weeks of September, hinting that the extra step may be discouraging some borderline cases.

Payment Schedule and New Grant Amounts

While the biometric shift dominates headlines, SASSA also released the October 2025 payment calendar. The Old‑Age Grant will be deposited on Thursday, 2 October, followed by the Disability Grant on Friday, 3 October, and a slew of child and foster‑care grants on Monday, 6 October.

Amounts have been tweaked slightly upward – OAGs rise to R2,315, war‑veterans grants climb to R2,335, and disability grants increase to R2,315. The adjustments reflect inflation and a modest budget boost from the Treasury.

Matlou reminded beneficiaries that funds remain in their accounts until drawn, so there’s no need to crowd the collection points on the first day.

Looking Ahead: What This Means for South Africa’s Social Safety Net

The biometric rollout is part of a broader digital‑transformation agenda that includes a new online portal for grant status checks, slated for launch early 2026. If the enrollment succeeds, SASSA expects to slash fraudulent payouts by up to 30 % within the first year.

However, critics argue that technology alone won’t solve systemic problems like under‑funding and administrative bottlenecks. They call for parallel investments in community outreach and better data‑sharing between departments.

In the meantime, retirees are urged to keep their contact details up‑to‑date and to call the toll‑free line 0800 60 10 11 for any assistance.

Key Facts

• Biometric enrollment becomes mandatory for all new OAG applications and for beneficiaries under review on 1 September 2025.
• Payments for September 2025 OAGs: R2,330 (75+) and R2,310 (60‑74), paid on 2 September.
• October 2025 OAG payment date: 2 October, amount increased to R2,315.
• Agency: South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
• Location: South Africa.