What Are EasyPay Loans SASSA?
EasyPay Loans SASSA is a short-term loan for SASSA grant recipients, offered through the EasyPay Everywhere account and run by Lesaka Technologies, the company previously known as Net1.
Net1 UEPS Technologies rebranded as Lesaka Technologies in 2022. The loan product itself used to be called Moneyline Financial Services and now trades as EasyPay Loans, operating through epe-online.co.za.
If you have seen the terms "Net1 SASSA loans," "Moneyline loans," or "EasyPay green card loans," they all refer to this same product under its current name.
Important: SASSA does not give loans
SASSA is a government agency that pays social grants. It does not lend money to anyone. EasyPay Loans is a private credit product from Lesaka Technologies, a company listed on the JSE (LSK) and NASDAQ (LSAK). Any person or website claiming to offer an "official SASSA loan" is not being straight with you.
EasyPay Loans Contact Number and Support
The EasyPay Loans call centre is 0801 111 880. You can also SMS 49201 for a callback or visit a branch listed at epe-online.co.za.
Use these channels depending on what you need. Keep your 16-digit EasyPay Everywhere card number ready when you call, as the agent will ask for it to pull up your account.
| Need | Contact |
|---|---|
| General queries and loan support | 0801 111 880 |
| Request a callback | SMS 49201 |
| Apply for a loan or top-up | *120*3737*7# |
| Get a loan statement | 0801 111 880, EPE app, or in branch |
| Branch finder and account info | epe-online.co.za |
| SASSA grant queries (not loans) | 0800 60 10 11 |
| Report reckless lending | NCR: 0860 627 627 |
| Free independent advice | Black Sash: 072 663 3739 |
Last updated: 13 August 2026. Contact details confirmed directly with EasyPay Loans.
EasyPay Loans SASSA Requirements (2026)
You need to be 18 or older, hold a valid South African ID, receive an active SASSA grant, and have an EasyPay Everywhere account with at least 3 consecutive months of grant deposits.
- 18 or older, with a valid South African ID
- An active SASSA grant, any type
- EasyPay Everywhere account open for 3+ months
- Registered phone number, biometrically verified
Check both your eligibility and your paperwork before you apply. Missing documents are the most common reason applications get delayed.
Eligibility Criteria
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 years or older |
| Citizenship | South African citizen with a valid SA ID |
| SASSA grant | Active grant of any type: Old Age, Disability, Child Support and others |
| EasyPay Everywhere account | Grant deposited for at least 3 consecutive months |
| Biometric verification | Registered mobile number verified at a branch; see our SASSA biometric verification guide |
| Affordability check | Basic assessment required under the National Credit Act |
Documents You Will Need
- Valid smart ID card or green ID book (a temporary ID is also accepted)
- The mobile phone registered to your EasyPay Everywhere account
- Your green EasyPay Everywhere card with the 16-digit account number
- Proof of address no older than 3 months
- A 3-month EasyPay Everywhere statement, which EasyPay can usually pull up internally
No EasyPay Everywhere account yet?
You can still apply for a smaller, one-month loan by visiting a branch with your ID, phone and a recent SASSA grant slip. Loans up to R4,000 with longer repayment terms need the full account history.
EasyPay Loans SASSA: Apply Online in 2026
To apply for EasyPay Loans SASSA online, dial *120*3737*7# from your registered phone. It works without data on any network and takes under 10 minutes if your biometrics are already verified.
Method 1: USSD Application (Fastest)
- Confirm your number is biometrically verified. This is a once-off step done in branch. Without it, the USSD menu will not process an application.
- Dial *120*3737*7# from the number registered on your account. The menu loads with no data needed.
- Select a loan amount. The system shows only the amounts you qualify for, along with the repayment and term.
- Confirm with your ATM PIN. Never share this PIN with anyone, including someone claiming to be an EasyPay agent.
- Receive funds. Approved loans land in your EasyPay Everywhere account, usually within a few hours or the next business day.
Method 2: EasyPay Everywhere App
If you already have an account, download the EasyPay Everywhere app from Google Play and log in with your card number, PIN, SA ID number and registered email address to apply.
Method 3: Apply In Branch
Visit your nearest branch with your ID, EPE card, phone and proof of address. A consultant runs the affordability check with you and hands you the full loan agreement to read before you sign.
Know your rights before signing
Under the National Credit Act, you are entitled to a pre-agreement statement showing the total repayment, all fees, and the full schedule before you sign anything. Do not let a consultant fill in the affordability form for you. If you feel rushed or pressured, walk away.
EasyPay Loan Top-Up: How to Borrow More
You can request a top-up once you have repaid enough of your current EasyPay loan to qualify for extra credit, through the same *120*3737*7# USSD menu or the EasyPay Everywhere app.
A top-up rolls your remaining balance into a new, usually larger, loan rather than giving you a second separate loan on top of the first. Here is how to request one:
- Dial *120*3737*7# and select the top-up or "borrow more" option if it appears on your menu. Not everyone qualifies immediately, since it depends on how much of the current loan you have repaid.
- Check the app. The EasyPay Everywhere app shows whether a top-up is available and what amount you qualify for.
- Call 0801 111 880 if the USSD menu does not show a top-up option and you want to ask directly.
- Review the new terms before confirming. A top-up resets your repayment schedule and combines the outstanding balance with the new amount, so your monthly deduction can go up even if the extra cash feels small.
Think twice before topping up
Rolling a new loan into an old one keeps you paying the 31% service fee on a bigger balance for longer. If you are topping up because the first loan did not cover your shortfall, it is worth reading our note on good debt vs bad debt before you commit to another round.
EasyPay Loan Costs and Interest Rates (2026)
EasyPay charges a service fee, typically around 31% of the loan amount, instead of monthly interest. This works out to an effective annual rate of roughly 138% to 280%, among the highest of any legal credit product in South Africa.
| Loan amount | Term | Service fee (31%) | Total repayment | Effective annual rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R410 | 3 months | R127 | R537 | ~280% |
| R1,000 | 3 months | R310 | R1,310 | ~250% |
| R2,000 | 6 months | R620 | R2,620 | ~164% |
| R4,000 | 9 months | R1,240 | R5,240 | ~138% |
Last updated: 13 August 2026. Figures are indicative based on the published 31% service fee. Confirm the exact total with EasyPay before signing.
Real budget impact
If your monthly old age grant is around R2,180 and you take a R2,000 loan over 6 months, the automatic deduction is roughly R437 a month. That leaves you under R1,750 before any other EasyPay deductions such as insurance or airtime, which is why many beneficiaries end up re-borrowing. This is a clear example of what we call bad debt, borrowing that shrinks your future income rather than building it.
Pros and Cons of EasyPay SASSA Loans
EasyPay Loans are fast and require no credit check, but the cost is high and repayments come off your grant automatically before you see the money.
Advantages
- Apply online in minutes using USSD, with no data or queueing
- No credit score check required
- Payout is usually same day
- Open to all active SASSA grant types
- No risk of blacklisting, since deductions are automatic
Disadvantages
- Effective annual rates of 138% to 280% are very expensive
- Repayments come off your grant before you access it
- A track record of unauthorised deductions for other add-on products
- Needs 3 months of EPE account history for most loan sizes
- High risk of a repeat borrowing cycle
Understanding Your EasyPay Everywhere Account
Your EasyPay Everywhere account is a low-cost bank account backed by African Bank. It is the account your grant lands in, and it is what makes EasyPay Loans possible.
Here is how it works in practice:
- You open an EasyPay Everywhere account and your SASSA grant is redirected to your green EPE card instead of a SASSA card.
- Because the EPE account is a private bank account, EasyPay can legally deduct loan repayments from it. Direct deductions from a SASSA card are not allowed.
- Repayments are collected automatically each month, before you can withdraw your full grant.
Beyond loans, the EPE account also gives you USSD banking, the mobile app, ATM withdrawals, bill payments, airtime and electricity purchases, and EasyPay funeral cover.
Before you open an EPE account
Opening an EasyPay Everywhere account redirects your entire grant to the green card. Research from the Black Sash and the London School of Economics has documented cases where people signed up without fully understanding this redirection. Make sure you understand what changes, particularly if you currently draw your grant from Postbank or another bank.
How to Stop Unauthorised Deductions
Call EasyPay Loans on 0801 111 880 to query any deduction you did not agree to, then escalate to the National Credit Regulator on 0860 627 627 if it is not resolved.
Many beneficiaries find charges on their statement for insurance, airtime or electricity they do not remember agreeing to. Work through this checklist:
- Check your statement. Pull a full transaction history through the app, USSD, or a branch visit, and identify each line item.
- Contact EasyPay directly. Call 0801 111 880 or SMS 49201 and ask an agent to call you back.
- Contact SASSA on 0800 60 10 11 for anything you believe was deducted directly from your original SASSA card rather than your EPE account.
- Lodge a complaint with the NCR on 0860 627 627. They can investigate reckless or unlawful lending.
- Call the Black Sash on 072 663 3739 for free, independent advice from people experienced with these disputes.
Free help: the Black Sash
The Black Sash is a non-profit human rights organisation that has helped SASSA beneficiaries with EasyPay deduction disputes since 2015. Call 072 663 3739 or visit blacksash.org.za. Their advice does not cost anything.
EasyPay Loans vs a General SASSA Loan via Cellphone
EasyPay Loans is one specific product tied to the EasyPay Everywhere account. A general SASSA loan via cellphone can refer to several different USSD lending products, each with its own provider, requirements and cost structure.
People often search for a "SASSA loan via cellphone" expecting one single option, but the market has more than one player. If you do not already have an EasyPay Everywhere account, or you want to compare your options before committing to a 6 or 9 month EasyPay loan, read our separate guide to SASSA loans via cellphone, which covers the wider USSD lending landscape beyond EasyPay specifically.
If you already hold an EasyPay Everywhere account and your SASSA grant already lands there, this page is the right one to follow.
Cheaper Alternatives to Consider
Shoprite Money Market, Finbond Mutual Bank, and Capitec Bank typically offer lower effective rates than EasyPay Loans, and none of them require an EasyPay Everywhere account.
Why Apply Once Instead of Many Times
Every separate loan application can trigger its own credit check, and applying to several lenders one by one in a short space of time can make you look riskier than you actually are. A single comparison form on Compare Loans South Africa checks your details against multiple NCR-registered lenders at once, so you fill in your information once instead of five separate times, and you can see rates side by side before deciding who to go with.
Before committing to an EasyPay loan, compare these options:
- Compare Loans South Africa: our own side-by-side comparison of personal loans, retail credit and short-term options from multiple NCR-registered providers, all from one application. Compare rates now
- FatCat Loans: submit one application and get matched against several NCR-registered lenders, which can improve your chances of approval compared with applying to a single lender directly. See if you qualify
- Shoprite Money Market: fast in-store micro-loans at Shoprite branches nationwide, generally with lower fees
- Finbond Mutual Bank: NCR-registered, with transparent fixed-rate disclosure and loans from R500 to R20,000
- Capitec Bank: requires a credit assessment but usually offers a substantially lower effective rate if you qualify. See our guide to online personal loans in South Africa for a full comparison
- African Bank: backs the EPE account itself and offers direct personal loans with transparent rate disclosure
- Instant cash loan providers: for once-off shortfalls, compare rates using our instant cash loans guide before choosing EasyPay by default
- Community and NGO support: local NGOs, churches and SASSA social workers can sometimes connect you to food parcels or zero-interest emergency relief
If you are already juggling multiple loans and struggling to keep up, it may be worth reading about loans for people under debt review or how to plan a path toward getting out of debt review rather than taking on another short-term loan.
Frequently Asked Questions About EasyPay Loans SASSA in South Africa
Dial *120*3737*7# on your registered mobile phone to apply online. No data or smartphone is needed and it works on Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom. You must complete biometric verification at a branch first before the USSD menu will process an application.
You need to be 18 or older, a South African citizen with a valid ID, and an active SASSA grant recipient. You also need an EasyPay Everywhere account with at least 3 consecutive months of grant deposits and a biometrically verified phone number. See our full biometric verification guide for that step.
The USSD code is *120*3737*7#. Dial it from the mobile number registered on your EasyPay Everywhere account, choose a loan amount, and confirm with your ATM PIN.
Loan amounts range from about R410 to R4,000, depending on your grant size and repayment history. Terms are 3, 6 or 9 months, and first-time borrowers usually start on the lower end.
Net1 UEPS Technologies rebranded as Lesaka Technologies in 2022. EasyPay Loans, formerly called Moneyline, and the EasyPay Everywhere account are both run by Lesaka Technologies today, listed as NASDAQ: LSAK and JSE: LSK.
EasyPay charges a service fee of around 31% of the loan amount rather than monthly interest. On a 6-month loan this works out to an effective annual rate of roughly 164%, and shorter loans can reach 280% a year. Always ask for the full pre-agreement statement before signing.
Call EasyPay Loans on 0801 111 880 or SMS 49201 to query the deduction directly. If it is not resolved, lodge a complaint with the National Credit Regulator on 0860 627 627 or contact the Black Sash on 072 663 3739 for free help.
Yes, a smaller one-month loan is available without an existing account. Visit a branch in person with your SA ID, phone and a recent SASSA grant slip, though loans up to R4,000 need a full 3-month account history.
The EasyPay Loans call centre is 0801 111 880. You can also SMS 49201 for a callback, or visit epe-online.co.za to find a branch near you.
No, they are different products. EasyPay Loans requires an EasyPay Everywhere account, while a general SASSA loan via cellphone can refer to other USSD lending options with their own separate requirements and costs.
No. SASSA is a government agency that pays social grants and does not lend money. EasyPay Loans is a private credit product from Lesaka Technologies, and any site claiming to offer an official SASSA loan is not telling the truth.
Repayments are usually deducted automatically from your EasyPay Everywhere account before you can withdraw your grant, so a missed repayment is uncommon. If your account will not have enough funds, contact EasyPay on 0801 111 880 before the due date to discuss your options.
No, EasyPay Loans is built around the EasyPay Everywhere account used by older, disability and child support grant recipients. If you receive the SRD grant, check SASSA's own channels through our SASSA R350 grant application guide instead.
Dial the USSD code from your registered phone and select the balance option, or check it in the EasyPay Everywhere app. You can also ask for a balance at any EasyPay branch or partnered ATM.
Yes, once you have repaid part of your loan you may qualify for a top-up through *120*3737*7# or the EasyPay Everywhere app. A top-up combines your outstanding balance with the new amount and resets your repayment schedule, so check the new total before you confirm.
Call 0801 111 880, check the transaction history in the EasyPay Everywhere app, or ask for a printed statement at any branch. Check your statement every month against your grant deposit so you catch any incorrect deductions early.
Final Word: Is an EasyPay SASSA Loan Worth It?
EasyPay Loans is one of the fastest, most accessible short-term credit options for SASSA beneficiaries, but it is also one of the most expensive. It is worth using only after you have checked cheaper alternatives and are confident you can absorb the automatic deduction.
For a genuine emergency, EasyPay has real advantages. The USSD application takes under 10 minutes, there is no credit score check, and funds usually arrive the same day. For someone without access to formal banking credit, it is one of the more accessible options in South Africa.
But the cost is high. A 31% service fee deducted automatically from your grant each month, before you even see the money, is expensive by any measure. Lesaka carries close to zero default risk on these loans, since repayment happens before you can withdraw your funds, yet the rate charged reflects high-risk unsecured lending.
Before you apply, ask yourself three questions:
- Can I cover all essential expenses this month after the deduction?
- Have I used a loan comparison tool to check Shoprite Money Market, Capitec and others in one go?
- Will I need to borrow again next month? If the answer is yes, this loan will likely make things harder, not easier.
If you do go ahead, get the total repayment in writing first, check your statement every month for surprise deductions, and keep the Black Sash number handy: 072 663 3739, free help if anything goes wrong.