SASSA and LOTTO: Is it illegal to buy a ticket with my grant?

SASSA and LOTTO: Is it illegal to buy a ticket with my grant?Social grants from SASSA are meant to provide care and assistance. But is it illegal to play LOTTO with your social grant? Here's what we found.

by Alex Coyne

26-10-2023 10:53

in Culture

Key announcements for SASSA beneficiaries. Image: iStock

Social grants from SASSA are meant to provide care and resources to citizens who need it. But is it illegal to buy a LOTTO ticket with your grant, or are you free to spend the social grant payment on what you wish? The South African explored just how social grants can legally be spent, and who is allowed to do the spending.

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National LOTTO Rules Let's start with the first question of who can play the lottery.

ALSO READ: SASSA warns against website fraud: How to avoid scammers

The National Lottery rules stipulates that LOTTO players must be 18 or older to play. Players must buy their own ticket, and be able to legally sign a contract.

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Without these conditions met, someone cannot legally play the lottery (or claim their win from Ithuba).

SASSA Grant Payments Social grant payments are allocated to the person who receives the grant. The only person who legally may spend the grant is the person in whose name the grant is received.

ALSO READ: SASSA: How can I contact SASSA?

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According to the SASSA rules, a social grant must be:

Spent only by the person the grant is legally issued to, and

Used for the person's care, such as groceries or transport

It is illegal to spend someone else's social grant, or to use someone else's SASSA card or payment.

Technically, no but there's a catch! It is completely legal to buy a LOTTO entry with your SASSA grant, when:

The social grant is your own, and

You meet the legal conditions to play.

There's one catch: if you win the lottery jackpot, you might no longer be eligible for your SASSA grant and will automatically fail the means test if your LOTTO payment(s) exceed allowed earnings.

ALSO READ: Is SASSA offline? How to find out in 10 minutes or less

A lottery win is still counted as an income.

Report SASSA fraud here If you see fraud at work, report fraud online here.

ALSO READ: SASSA: What is social grant fraud?

Only grant recipients may spend their social grants, and nobody can withold your card. Contact the Head Office Hotline at +27 80 060 1011.

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LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/sassa-and-lotto-is-it-illegal-...
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