What happens if I don't repay my debt to SASSA?

The long answer

Thank you for your email asking what happens when you don’t pay your debt to SASSA for the SRD grant you received after you got a job.

The Paralegal Advice Website says SASSA will stop a grant if they find out information you provided was untrue, or if your circumstances change (for example, if you start earning a salary high enough to disqualify you). 

They go on to say, “Providing misleading information constitutes fraud and SASSA can claim any money that has been overpaid back from you.”

SASSA explains that, according to section 10.1 of the Ministerial Directions, “SASSA may recover all monies paid to any person in the event that such a person irregularly benefitted or was not entitled to benefit from the Social Relief of Distress Grant.”

SASSA will send you an SMS informing you that you owe them money and have to settle the debt. You can also check whether you have debtor status the same way you would check your SRD application status on the website.

You cannot appeal SASSA’s decision to classify you as a debtor.

You have to pay the debt electronically to one of SASSA’s bank accounts (details below). NB: use your ID number as a payment reference.

All the SASSA bank deposit accounts are at FNB. All the Branch numbers are 250655.

Here is a list of the SASSA account numbers for the different provinces:

Free State: 6213 1569 793

Gauteng:  6213 1570 352

KwaZulu-Natal: 6213 1571 128

Limpopo: 6213 1572 093

Mpumalanga: 6213 1578 918

Northern Cape: 6213 1579 914

North West: 6213 1580 591

Western Cape: 6213 1568 638

You will not be able to access any social grant from SASSA until the debt is repaid. It is not explicitly said what would happen if you failed to pay the debt.

As the debt will not go away, perhaps you could contact SASSA and negotiate the best possible rate for you to repay the money. Below are the SASSA contact numbers and email address:

SASSA Toll Free Call centre on: 0800 60 10 11
SASSA Head Office on: 012 400 2322
Email SASSA Head Office at: Grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za

You could also ask an organisation like The Black Sash, which gives free paralegal advice and has a lot of experience with social grant problems, for help in negotiating the rate of repayment. You can contact them here:

Black Sash

Email: help@blacksash.org.za 

Helpline: 072 66 33 739, 072 633 3739 or 063 610 1865.

Wishing you the best,
Athalie