Online claims about double payments of the R350 or R370 Social Relief of Distress grant have created confusion for South African beneficiaries who depend on the payment. Social media posts and unofficial websites have suggested that SASSA would issue two SRD payments in one month which led many recipients to believe they would receive extra payments. However, these claims are not supported by any official announcement from the South African Social Security Agency.
SASSA has warned beneficiaries to avoid sharing or believing any information that exists without verification because false payment alerts will return during times of financial strain.
SASSA Confirms No Double SRD Payments
SASSA confirms that approved beneficiaries will receive one SRD payment each month. The organization does not have existing policies that would permit multiple SRD payments together with backdated bonuses and surprise top-ups. The government will announce any adjustments to grant payment systems through official communication methods.
Beneficiaries should obtain information from SASSA’s official website together with its verified social media accounts and SMS notifications which are sent directly to them.
How the SRD Grant Payment System Works
The SRD grant currently provides R370 monthly payments which start after monthly eligibility assessments have been performed. The payment schedule for SRD payments differs from permanent grants which include the Old Age Grant and Disability Grant. The timing of payments depends on three main factors which include verification processes and banking confirmations and system checks.
The payment schedule which changes leads to confusion because people think they received two payments when they actually received their payments at different times
Why Double Payment Rumours Spread
The principal factor behind double payment rumours is double payment alert messages which falsely claim double payments to make life necessities such as food and transport and electricity costs unmanageable for the people who receive the SRD grant. WhatsApp and Facebook groups experience rapid growth of payment rumours during times when financial challenges emerge because people start to share information about extra payments which they believe to be true.
Misinformation results in people developing false expectations which leads to them experiencing stress when they realize that expected funds have not been delivered to them.
Warning Signs of Grant-Related Scams
SASSA issued an alert which stated that criminals use fake double payment claims as their primary method of executing fraud schemes. Beneficiaries should be cautious of messages requesting banking details, identity numbers, or payment “processing fees.” SASSA does not charge fees and does not ask for personal information through unofficial channels.
SASSA contact points exist for people to report suspicious messages which they should first ignore.
What Beneficiaries Should Do
Grant recipients are encouraged to regularly check their SRD status online, keep their banking details updated, and follow verified SASSA communication channels. The confirmation of payments serves as the basis for people to create their financial plans which protects them from experiencing both financial hardship and emotional distress.
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