SASSA: R500 Chronic Illness Grant Fake News Debunked

• A false claim is circulating on Facebook about SASSA offering an extra R500 (about US$30) monthly grant for chronically ill people over 70.
• The misinformation details a fake application process involving SASSA forms and doctor completion, requiring beneficiaries to be on chronic medication.
• SASSA, a national government entity, has officially debunked this claim as 'fake news' via its Twitter account on September 11, 2026.
• There is no evidence for this extra grant; existing older person's grants in 2026 were R2,400 for ages 60-74 and R2,420 for over 75s.
• This is a 'zombie claim' that was previously debunked by Africa Check in 2024 but continues to resurface online.

There is no official provision or evidence to support the existence of an extra R500 payment specifically for chronically ill beneficiaries over 70.

A persistent and false claim has been circulating online, particularly on Facebook in South Africa, asserting that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is providing an additional R500 (approximately US$30) monthly grant to individuals aged over 70 who suffer from chronic illnesses. This misinformation suggests a specific application process: obtaining a form from a SASSA office, having a doctor, local clinic, or hospital complete it, and then returning it to SASSA. The claim further specifies that beneficiaries must be on chronic medication to qualify.

This deceptive message has gained significant traction, appearing in Facebook groups boasting hundreds of thousands of members. Despite its widespread circulation and detailed, albeit fabricated, instructions, the claim is entirely unfounded. It represents a recurring piece of misinformation that has been previously debunked by fact-checking organizations and government agencies alike.

SASSA operates as a national government entity responsible for the management and distribution of social grants to vulnerable populations across South Africa. While SASSA does administer an older person's grant for individuals aged 60 and above, there is no official provision or evidence to support the existence of an extra R500 payment specifically for chronically ill beneficiaries over 70. In 2026, when this particular claim was actively circulating, the standard older person's grant amounted to R2,400 per month for those aged 60 to 74, and R2,420 for individuals over 75.

The agency has explicitly refuted the claim, issuing a 'FAKE NEWS ALERT' via its official Twitter account (@OfficialSASSA) on September 11, 2026. This official communication unequivocally stated that the message was false and did not originate from SASSA, underscoring the lack of any legitimate basis for the purported extra grant.

The resurgence of this misinformation highlights a phenomenon known as a 'zombie claim' – false narratives that continue to circulate and gain traction despite having been debunked multiple times. Africa Check, a non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting accuracy in public debate, initially debunked this specific SASSA R500 chronic illness grant fake news in 2024, yet it reappeared online in 2026, misleading many.

Such persistent misinformation, including the SASSA extra R500 chronically ill debunked claim, poses significant risks. It can create false hope among vulnerable elderly individuals and their families, leading them to waste time and resources pursuing non-existent benefits. Furthermore, it can erode trust in legitimate social security systems and potentially expose individuals to scams. The prevalence of SASSA grant scam South Africa incidents underscores the critical need for citizens to verify information directly from official sources like SASSA or reputable fact-checkers such as Africa Check SASSA R500, rather than relying on unverified social media posts.

Lawyers advising clients on social security benefits or elder law in South Africa must be aware of persistent misinformation campaigns, such as this debunked 'extra R500' grant, to provide accurate advice and prevent clients from pursuing non-existent benefits or falling victim to scams.

Source: Original reporting via AllAfrica