Disclaimer

CluedUp is an independent information site, not a government agency. Our guides are general information, not legal or financial advice, and details can change.

Independent, not government

CluedUp (staycluedup.com) is an independent editorial website. We are not a government department or agency, and we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of SASSA, NSFAS, SARS, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Basic Education, or any other public body. References to these institutions are for explanatory purposes only. For anything official, you must use the relevant government’s own portal.

Information, not advice

Everything on CluedUp is general information to help you understand how public services work. It is not legal, financial, tax, immigration, or professional advice, and it should not be relied on as a substitute for advice from a qualified professional or from the responsible government department. Your circumstances are unique, and only the official body can make a binding decision about your application, grant, tax, or documents.

Amounts, fees and dates change

Grant amounts, application fees, eligibility rules, deadlines and procedures change often and sometimes without much notice. We describe figures such as grant amounts as accurate “as of” a given time and date our guides accordingly, but we cannot guarantee that every detail is current at the moment you read it. Always confirm the latest amounts, fees and deadlines on the official portal before you act.

External portals and links

Our guides link to official government portals and other third-party websites for your convenience. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content, availability, accuracy, or practices. When you follow a link, always check that you are on the genuine official portal, especially before entering any personal information.

No liability

We work hard to be accurate, but CluedUp is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from your use of, or reliance on, the information on this site, including any decision you make or action you take based on it. Your use of official government services is governed by those services’ own terms and decisions.

Stay safe from scams

CluedUp will never ask for your ID number, SASSA PIN, OTP, banking details or passwords, and no legitimate government service will ask you to share those with a stranger or pay a fee to “unlock” a grant. Be cautious of messages, calls, or websites that ask for sensitive details or payment, and be especially wary of links sent by SMS or social media that closely imitate official addresses. If something feels wrong, stop and verify directly on the official government portal by typing the address yourself rather than following a link. Our guides include safety guidance to help you recognise fraud, and we would always rather you double-checked than took a risk.

Advertising is separate from editorial

CluedUp is funded by advertising, and ads may appear alongside our content. Advertising is kept separate from our editorial work: advertisers do not review, approve, or influence our guides or the official sources we recommend. The presence of an advertisement is not an endorsement by CluedUp, and it does not make an advertised service official. You can read more about how we operate on our About page.