The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has officially confirmed that biometric registration will become mandatory for all social grant beneficiaries starting February 2026. This new requirement is part of a national programme designed to strengthen grant administration, improve identity verification, and significantly reduce fraud within the system. Beneficiaries who do not complete biometric registration risk payment delays and possible suspension of their grants.
Why SASSA Is Introducing Biometric Verification
SASSA is rolling out biometric verification to address long-standing challenges within the grant system, including identity theft, duplicate grant claims, and unauthorised access to payments. The new system will rely on fingerprint and facial recognition technology to confirm that grants are paid only to eligible individuals. By replacing older manual verification methods, SASSA aims to reduce errors, close security gaps, and prevent misuse.
Who Must Complete Biometric Registration
The biometric registration requirement applies to all SASSA grant beneficiaries. This includes older persons grant recipients, disability grant holders, child support grant beneficiaries, care dependency grant recipients, and all other grant types. Both existing beneficiaries and new applicants will be required to comply. In addition, beneficiaries who change their banking details or update personal information will be required to re-verify their identity through the biometric system.
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Biometric Registration Process
Biometric registration will be conducted exclusively at SASSA offices and officially authorised registration centres. During the process, beneficiaries will have their fingerprints captured and undergo facial scanning. This biometric data will be securely linked to each individual’s grant profile, creating a permanent identity record that will be used to authenticate beneficiaries during future payment processes. SASSA has indicated that additional staff and resources will be deployed to manage the increased demand during the rollout period.
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Deadlines and Payment Impact
SASSA has cautioned that beneficiaries who fail to complete biometric registration by the stipulated deadline may face temporary suspension of grant payments. Payments will only resume once biometric verification has been successfully completed. With monthly payment schedules continuing as normal, beneficiaries are strongly encouraged to register as early as possible to avoid any disruption to their income.
Protecting Yourself From Scams
As biometric verification is introduced, beneficiaries are advised to remain alert to potential scams. SASSA will never request biometric information via phone calls, SMS messages, or unofficial agents. Biometric registration must only be completed at authorised SASSA centres. Beneficiaries should rely solely on official SASSA communication channels for updates and guidance related to the new system.
