The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has warned social grant beneficiaries against frequently changing their nominated bank accounts or payment methods, saying repeated changes could put payments at risk and result in delays.

The warning comes after the agency noted an increase in the number of beneficiaries changing their payment arrangements and banking details.

SASSA said beneficiaries have the right to choose how they receive their grants, but urged them to keep their banking arrangements stable wherever possible.

The agency said changing bank account details close to grant payment processing dates could mean beneficiaries miss the cut-off for the next payment cycle.

This could result in grants being paid later than beneficiaries expect.

SASSA spokesperson Dr Paseka Letsatsi said beneficiaries should only change their payment arrangements when there is a genuine need to do so.

“Beneficiaries have a right to choose how they receive their grants, but frequent changes to banking details can create unnecessary risks and delays,” Letsatsi said.

He said errors in newly submitted banking information could also result in payments being rejected and returned.

This could happen where incorrect account details are provided or where a new bank account has not been fully activated or verified by the financial institution.

“Beneficiaries should make sure that any new bank account is active and that the details submitted to SASSA are correct and have been verified by the bank,” Letsatsi said.

According to SASSA, maintaining a consistent banking relationship can also have wider financial benefits for grant recipients.

The agency said stable accounts could help beneficiaries build a reliable banking history and make it easier to access formal financial services.

Repeatedly changing accounts could also create complications with other financial arrangements and increase the risk of interruptions to grant payments.

The agency said frequent changes were not only a concern for individual beneficiaries but also placed additional pressure on the social assistance system.

Every change to banking details has to be verified as part of measures aimed at protecting beneficiaries and public funds from fraud and identity theft.

The verification process requires staff, time and system resources, while repeated changes contribute to increased enquiries and pressure at SASSA service points.

Letsatsi said beneficiaries could help reduce administrative pressure by keeping their banking information unchanged unless a change was necessary.

“Every banking detail change must go through verification to protect beneficiaries and public funds. When changes are made repeatedly, it increases the administrative workload and can contribute to delays,” he said.

SASSA said reducing unnecessary changes would allow its limited resources to be directed towards improving services and processing legitimate grant payments.

The agency also acknowledged that some beneficiaries may change their bank accounts because of existing financial obligations, including loans and debit arrangements.

However, it cautioned beneficiaries against assuming that changing a bank account would resolve financial obligations owed to lenders or other creditors.

“Changing a bank account does not cancel a contractual obligation to a lender or creditor,” Letsatsi said.

He urged beneficiaries experiencing difficulties with loan repayments or other financial commitments to engage directly with their financial institutions and seek appropriate financial advice.

SASSA said beneficiaries should understand the terms and conditions of their financial agreements before making decisions about changing bank accounts.

The agency reiterated that its priority was to ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive the correct grants while maintaining the integrity of the social grants system.

SASSA urged beneficiaries to plan any necessary changes to their payment arrangements carefully and avoid making changes shortly before payment processing dates.

The agency said beneficiaries should ensure that their banking details are accurate, verified and linked to an active account before submitting any changes.

Letsatsi said beneficiaries who maintain stable payment arrangements were less likely to encounter avoidable disruptions.

“SASSA remains committed to ensuring that the right social grants are paid to the right beneficiaries. Stable and accurate payment information is an important part of achieving that,” he said.