SASSA Card Not Working? Fix Your Declined SASSA Card With Easy Steps. If you are a South African citizen and receive social grants from the government, you likely have a SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) card. All deserving citizens get this grant each month, but if you are here, you must have been facing issues with getting the grant because your card got blocked, right?
Are you facing an issue with your SASSA card, and it keeps declining at the ATM and stores? The reason behind this is that your card has been blocked. It is mostly blocked unintentionally by its users, while sometimes it is often blocked by SASSA.
When your card is blocked, you will see the notification of an invalid card or declined transaction whenever you use it at an ATM. You will also receive an SMS on your registered phone number with the reason for the declination of your SASSA gold card.
I know it’s troublesome if you need any urgent money, but there is nothing to worry about, as I’m here to help you in solving this issue. In this article, I will guide you on the reasons that caused the card’s decline and also the step-by-step solution to fix it and activate your card again.
Reasons for SASSA Card Declined
Before moving to the solution, you need to understand the reasons that cause restrictions on your card. Please see the below reasons to identify if any of the one is happened to you:
So, these were the most common reasons that may result in blocking your card. Now, let’s move to the solution to unblock your card.
How to Fix Your Blocked or Declined SASSA Card
The fixing of a declined card is simple; you can reactivate it either by calling the SASSA helpline or by visiting the SASSA office. The unblocking process varies depending on the reason for the card blockage, and SASSA staff will guide you accordingly. I will explain step-by-step details below to activate your card again, but before following it, make sure your card is not physically damaged and in good condition.
Please keep in mind that your card cannot be blocked due to expiry, as according to the latest update of SASSA, your expired SASSA card will work perfectly throughout until any further announcement from SASSA.
Unblock Your Card By Calling SASSA Helpline
The first and easiest method to unblock your SASSA card is to call them via their helpline directly. This method helped me quickly when I was unaware of why my card got blocked. I will mention the same steps I followed. You will need to do the same:
Please note that if they need further verification or they blocked your card due to any pending investigation, then they may also ask you to visit the office. You must call them from the phone number that you used to apply for your SASSA grant. Otherwise, they may not process your request.
Visit the SASSA Office to Fix Your Declined SASSA Card
If you are not comfortable with the call method, then the other way to fix your declined SASSA card is by visiting your local SASSA office. First, you need to find your nearest SASSA office location and its opening timing. You will also need to take along your identity document and a mobile phone with a registered SASSA phone number.
After everything is ready, then follow the below steps:
They may also do some other verification checks before fixing your card. The disadvantage of this method is that you may need to wait for hours due to long queues. So, it is better to check your issue first by calling the SASSA helpline.
Note: Whether you choose to visit the SASSA office or call the helpline, the staff will guide you if your card is blocked by any technical error, withdrawal limit, wrong attempts, due to not collecting your grant on time, or it is due to your bank account. They will provide you with the details that you need to wait and the card will fix itself after waiting time or unblock your card if they blocked it due to any reason after the verification.
What to Do if My SASSA Card Cannot Be Unblocked?
By following the above methods, I am sure that your card will be reactivated. But still, if there is any reason that SASSA cannot unblock your card then you can request the SASSA to issue a new card. The request should be made by visiting the office. The SASSA staff will guide you on if that is possible depending on the reason for your card blockage.
In the meantime, you can also change your grant payment method to a Cash Method to receive your funds directly from the Post Office, Pick n Pay, or any SASSA-partnered retail outlets.
If you have lost your card, then you can follow guide to recover your lost SASSA card.
How to Protect Your SASSA Card from Unexpected Blocks ️in the Future
Now, you know how to reactivate your restricted SASSA card. But to avoid any future blocks, I am sharing some tips with you. Follow them to keep your card always safe:
Following these small tips will always protect your card and keep it safe from any future mishappens.