Lost SASSA Card, What to do? Urgent Solution
SASSA is a funding agency that aims to mitigate poverty, unemployment, and other social issues in South Africa. The government agency works like a bank in which all the funds get collected and then distributed accordingly to deserving nationals. Any SASSA holder can withdraw the grant amount from any ATM service, bank, and more.
The SASSA payment card, like a credit or debit card, is used to withdraw money from ATMs, grocery stores, marts, and more. In South Africa, there are many merchants and stores through which you can buy anything for free of cost.
However, any SASSA holder can lose his or her SASSA payment card or wants to replace the card.
There is NO need to panic if you lost your card, your card is useless without your pin. No one can withdraw money from it.
If this is the case and you want to know “lost SASSA card what to do”, this article is the right place for you. I will below discuss my experience with SASSA and what I did when my card got lost.
I Lost my SASSA Card
Once I was traveling somewhere and lost my SASSA card; it was no less than a panic attack for me. I called their office, visited the post office, their official website, and whatnot. But that’s what I did out of nowhere because I was not aware of what to do and what to avoid.
After the replacement of my SASSA card, I got to know that there is no need to panic when you have lost the SASSA card as you can get the new one through different ways.
However, that doesn’t mean you can be irresponsible. In case you lost the SASSA card you can get the replacement through the post office or by contacting the SASSA office. Let me share both ways in-depth:
How To Replace SASSA Card Through Post Office?
If you have misplaced or lost your SASSA card, you can visit the post office to get a new card or replace the SASSA card. Please visit the post office nearby your home in the first place and request the new SASSA card from there.
Don’t visit the post office barehand, you need to prove your identity for the replacement of your SASSA card or to get a new SASSA card. For this purpose, make sure to bring the identity card to get the SASSA card. You need to show the ID to the receptionist and request the replacement of the card.
After submitting the request form for the replacement of the SASSA card, please submit R26. Yes, you have read right, the SASSA card is not free of cost. I also got to know this when I visit the post office to get a new card for the first time.
Before that, I was thinking that SASSA card replacement is free of cost, but that’s not the case. Well, when I first applied for the SASSA card, the fee was R20, but now it is R26.
When you submit the application and cash, you’ll receive the affidavit that will confirm that your SASSA card is lost and your replacement request is accepted. After that, you will get the new SASSA card from the posit office. Now set the PIN for the SASSA card, which you will use later to withdraw cash from the ATM.
How To Replace SASSA Card Through Phone Call?
Another way to replace the SASSA card is by contacting the SASSA office by phone. Dial 0800 600 160 from your mobile and register the request for the SASSA card replacement. Upon request approval, your old card will get suspended and SASSA will issue a new card for you.
Once the card is ready, you can receive it from the SASSA office or any considerable service point to receive the card. Please make sure to bring the identity card, bank details, gold card details, and proof of residence along with you when you visit the main office to receive the SASSA card. After receiving the SASSA card, you can set the new PIN and activate your card for the future.
When requesting the new SASSA payment card through a phone call, make sure to contact the number which you registered when you applied for the SASSA funding or aid. This is because if you call from someone else’s number, your request will not be considered.
In case the number that you entered or gave to SASSA at the time of registration for funding is not functional, you need to change the number from the previous one to the new one from the SASSA’s official website first. After changing the number associated with your SASSA account, contact the SASSA office for a new SASSA payment card.
In short, it is mandatory to call the number that is registered or linked with your SASSA account as per the SASSA policy. This policy is set for security and safety purposes.
What are the Benefits of the New SASSA Payment Card?
The new SASSA payment card offers free cash withdrawal on different merchants including Shoprite, Pick n Pay, and more. You’ll also get a free cash withdrawal at the post office from where you get the new card for the first time. Every month you can check the balance on the SASSA card for free of cost.
What happens if you lost your SASSA grant card?
When you have lost the SASSA card, you need to register the complaint urgently so that SASSA blocks the previous card. This is because someone can withdraw your grant amount through swiping the card on different linked merchants including Pick n Pay, Shoprite, and more. Please visit the nearby post office or call 0800 600 160 for the complaint registration and application for a new SASSA card.
The Bottom Line
SASSA payment card, like a debit or credit card, is used to withdraw money from ATMs or do shopping through different stores like Pick n Pay and Shoprite by swiping the card. There is the possibility that a SASSA holder has lost his or her card. In this case, they should register a request for replacement of the SASSA lost card so that SASSA blocks the previous card and issues the new one.