SASSA itself does not give loans. EasyPay Loans for grant recipients come from a private credit provider, and SASSA has said it does not offer financial services such as loans or funeral cover (see the SASSA statement on illegal deductions). To qualify you must be a South African citizen over 18 and have held an EasyPay Everywhere account for three months or longer.
You must also pass the lender’s affordability check and not be blacklisted. Borrowing is a private agreement between you and the lender, and the instalments come out of money you may need for food, transport and school costs, so work out what the loan will cost you each month before you decide.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
These are the criteria EasyPay publishes on its official EasyPay Loans page. They show whether you can apply. They do not promise approval.
- You are a South African citizen over the age of 18.
- You have held an EasyPay Everywhere account for three months or longer.
- For the loans of up to R2,000 (over 6 months) and up to R5,000 (over 9 months), you have had three or more grant deposits into that account. The immediate loan of up to R1,000 is repaid over 3 months.
- You pass the affordability check, which is done in line with National Credit Regulator regulations.
- You are not blacklisted. Blacklisted applicants cannot take a loan.
- You are not still repaying an EasyPay Loan. The outstanding loan must be repaid in full first, although a Top-Up Loan is available on 6- or 9-month loans when your repayments are up to date and one month remains.
Income and Affordability Requirements
You must pass the affordability requirements before a loan is approved. EasyPay says the check is done in line with National Credit Regulator regulations and that an affordability test cannot be done before you apply (see the EasyPay loans FAQ). The amount you are offered can therefore be lower than the advertised maximum.
Run your own check as well. Take your monthly grant, subtract rent, food, transport, electricity, school costs and any funeral policy, and see what is left. If the instalment would use up most of that, the loan will leave you short every month until it is repaid.
Credit and Financial Requirements
SASSA’s own rule is that only one deduction of up to 10% of the grant is allowed, and only with the beneficiary’s consent. That rule is about deductions from the grant itself. EasyPay Loan instalments are collected by debit order from your EasyPay Everywhere account under the loan agreement, so check your quote for the instalment amount and date.
Before you accept, note the main costs and conditions:
- Cost: the agreement charges interest, an initiation fee (payable upfront or added to the loan) and a monthly service fee. EasyPay does not publish the amounts on its loan page, they are set out in your quote. Compare the total repayable, not only the instalment.
- Quote validity: the quote is valid for five business days after you receive it.
- Repeat borrowing: a Top-Up Loan lets you borrow again before your current loan ends, so ask what it adds to the total you repay.
- Lender name: the 2025 loan agreement names EasyPay Financial Services as the registered credit provider (NCRCP633), while EasyPay’s August 2026 brochure attributes that number to Lesaka Financial Services (Pty) Ltd. Check the registration on the National Credit Regulator’s register before you sign.
Documents and Verification Required
What you need depends on the loan:
- For the immediate loan of up to R1,000: a SASSA confirmation letter showing your grant was switched to EasyPay Everywhere, and three months’ bank statements. Biometric verification and origination happen in a branch. EasyPay’s FAQ says a grant approval letter can replace the three-month statements where necessary.
- If you have no EasyPay account and apply for the branch one-month loan: a valid ID (a temporary ID is accepted), a mobile phone, proof of address not older than three months and a payslip.
- For phone applications: your number must first have been biometrically verified at an EasyPay Everywhere branch.
SASSA requires grants to be paid into an active personal bank account in your own name that supports electronic transfers. A lawful lender never needs your SASSA card or PIN. If anyone asks for them, walk away, and never share your PIN.
How to Apply and Improve Approval Readiness
People often search for how to apply for EasyPay loans SASSA online. EasyPay does not offer a full online application form. Its official EasyPay Loans page lists these ways to apply, and biometric verification in a branch is required:
- Dial *120*3737#, call 0801 11 18 80, request a call back on the website, or visit any EasyPay Everywhere branch. EasyPay says the application takes less than 10 minutes.
- To apply by phone with USSD, the FAQ gives *120*3737*7# and says it works only if your number was verified at a branch. A loan agent then phones you to finalise the application.
- Read the quote, including the total repayable, before you accept it.
EasyPay’s pages show slightly different numbers in places, so confirm the current number and USSD code with EasyPay. If your grant is not yet paid into EasyPay Everywhere, ask SASSA how to change your payment method, and confirm that process with SASSA before you do anything.
Only use official channels. SASSA does not arrange loans. Be suspicious of any SMS, WhatsApp message or agent offering a “SASSA loan” and asking for your card, your PIN or a payment to release the money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SASSA give EasyPay loans?
No. SASSA pays grants and says it does not offer financial services such as loans or funeral cover. The loan comes from a private credit provider.
Can I get an EasyPay loan if my grant goes to my SASSA card or another bank?
EasyPay’s grant-based loans are linked to your EasyPay Everywhere account history, and its pages do not say whether you can use the product if your grant is paid elsewhere. Without an EasyPay account, the FAQ lists a branch-only one-month loan that needs a payslip. Confirm your options with EasyPay and your payment arrangements with SASSA.
How many grant payments do I need before I can borrow more than R1,000?
Three or more grant deposits into your EasyPay Everywhere account for the loans of up to R2,000 (6 months) and up to R5,000 (9 months). Approval and the final amount still depend on the affordability check.
Can I apply for EasyPay loans SASSA online from my phone?
You can start by USSD, a phone call or a call-back request, but only after your cellphone number has been biometrically verified at an EasyPay Everywhere branch. There is no full online form.
Someone took money from my grant that I did not agree to. Who do I contact?
For an EasyPay Loan instalment, contact EasyPay on 0801 11 18 80. For any deduction you did not consent to, contact SASSA on its toll-free line 0800 60 10 11 (Monday to Friday) or WhatsApp 082 046 8553.
Grant rules and EasyPay’s loan criteria change, so confirm your grant payment arrangements with SASSA and the current loan terms with EasyPay before you sign. For the full product details, fees and repayment terms, see our EasyPay loans requirements guide.
See loan requirements and browse all finance and funding requirements.