SASSA card replacement: Can you request a home visit?
SASSA grant beneficiaries have been warned that requesting a home visit when they don’t qualify will result in a fine.
Numerous requests have been made to SASSA and Postbank regarding home visits for bedridden grant beneficiaries.
The two entities released a joint statement on 17 March 2025, informing grant beneficiaries on how to submit requests for visits and who qualifies.
HOME VISITS PROGRAM FOR BEDRIDDEN SASSA BENEFICIARIES
According to SASSA and Postbank’s statement, they have kept their promise to help all grant beneficiaries. They have achieved this through their home visit program which is now up and running.
“To the promise made by SASSA and Postbank that no beneficiary will be left out, we are pleased to announce that our home visits program has fully started.
“Through the home visits program, SASSA and Postbank teams attend to beneficiaries from their places of residence and provide them grant access enablement services,” read the statement.
WHICH BENEFICIARIES QUALIFY?
The entities have revealed that it’s only for qualifying beneficiaries. Their statement detailed that requests will need to meet certain criteria.
“Home visits are available only for qualifying beneficiaries. Every request will be assessed on its merits applying strict criteria,” they expressed.
These criteria are as follows:
- Beneficiary with incapacitating disability
- Beneficiary rendered incapacitated in movements due to an illness
- Confirmation of illness and complete incapacitation through a note from a medical doctor, social worker or a medical report from the clinic must be provided
Beneficiaries have been encouraged to only submit requests for these visits where absolutely necessary. Those who don’t qualify could see themselves ending up with a fine.
“Postbank and SASSA plead with grant beneficiaries and the public that they must make home visits requests only where it is genuinely necessary, and the beneficiary meets the set criteria. To prevent abuse of the home visits system, any home visit requests for unqualifying beneficiaries will attract a R250 fine,” they explained.
HOW TO BOOK A HOME VISIT?
Bookings can be made by the SASSA grant beneficiaries directly. If recipients aren’t able to then someone close to them can do the booking on their behalf.
Requests can be made by making a booking at SASSA offices. The SASSA Customer Care Centre can be reached on 0800 60 10 11. Individuals can also phone the Postbank Call Centre on 0800 53 54 55.
“A beneficiary’s ID number, residential details and contact details will be required. The beneficiary’s ID number shall be used as a reference number for any follow up enquiries.
“The home visits will be used to enable the beneficiaries to nominate a trusted individual to give authority over their account by signing a Postbank Account Access Authority letter,” the statement concluded.