The Social Relief of Distress grant benefits millions of people, and a new verification mechanism is being implemented. What happens if recipients do not undertake verification? The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has implemented a new biometric identification verification system to improve security for social grant payments and reduce the possibility of fraud. What happens if beneficiaries fail to complete the Sassa SRD biometric verification?
What is the Sassa SRD Grant’s Biometric Identification Verification?
The new Sassa verification system uses advanced biometric technologies to ensure that only authorized individuals can access and edit grant beneficiaries. This SRD verification will only be required for select instances, so let me break it down for you.
- Updating Your Mobile Number: To update the phone number associated with your SRD grant, you must first perform a biometric verification.
- SASSA’s security system may flag your application for verification if there is a risk of identity theft (either you are a victim or someone is misusing your information). Biometric verification confirms your identity and protects your grant access.
What to Expect during Sassa Verification?
To complete the biometric verification process, the applicant must have a smartphone or computer with a high-quality camera, a reliable internet connection, and a well-lit location.
- While the biometric verification procedure details are kept confidential for security reasons, SASSA guarantees that you will receive clear instructions when using the SRD system. This enables a smooth and secure verification procedure for all. These individuals receive two SMS messages, the second of which includes a link for face recognition verification. The connection is only valid for 72 hours, which causes anxiety for individuals who do not have rapid access to smartphones or internet connectivity.
What Happens if Clients Do Not Complete the Verification?
- According to Sassa, those who do not complete the biometric verification process within 72 hours may face a suspension of their grant payments.
- Grant payments may be suspended if clients do not complete the verification process.
- This is a one-time step to unblock accounts or make high-risk adjustments that will not impact other grant benefits.