The Department of Home Affairs in South Africa uses a system called the Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS) to verify the identity of individuals. HANIS uses biometric information such as fingerprints, alongside information held by Home Affairs, to confirm a person's identity. This system has been in use for identity verification, including by financial institutions and government services.
HANIS verification is a process that checks if a person is linked to their identity information, and if their biometric information matches Home Affairs records. The purpose of HANIS verification is to prevent identity fraud and ensure that services are linked to the correct person. This is particularly important when dealing with social grants, where the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) uses biometric verification to strengthen identity authentication.
Elderly South Africans may be asked to complete HANIS verification if there is a problem confirming their identity. For example, a person may have difficulty completing a biometric verification through SASSA, or there may be an issue matching their information to Home Affairs records. This does not necessarily mean that the person has done anything wrong, but rather that the system has not completed the required verification.
Being asked to complete HANIS verification does not automatically mean that a person has been accused of fraud. It is an identity-checking process designed to establish that a person's identity information and biometric information correspond with Home Affairs records. Elderly beneficiaries should ask officials exactly what verification is outstanding and what the next step is before making repeated trips to government offices.
Fingerprints can become more difficult for biometric equipment to read as people get older. Years of manual work, wear and changes to the skin can affect the clarity of fingerprints. A technical failure can also occur because of the scanner or the conditions in which the fingerprint is captured. This is why a failed fingerprint attempt should not necessarily be interpreted as a failed identity verification.
If a person is sent to Home Affairs for HANIS verification, they should ask the official to explain why the verification is required, what documents they need to take with them, and which Home Affairs office they should visit. They should also ask if they need an appointment, what they should do if their fingerprints cannot be captured, and whether another form of biometric verification is available.
HANIS verification is not the same as a SASSA grant review, although the two processes can overlap. A grant review is about checking whether a beneficiary still qualifies for their grant, while HANIS verification concerns identity verification. Beneficiaries should take documents including a valid ID, proof of income, and proof of residence to a grant review, depending on their circumstances.
Key points
- HANIS verification is a process used to verify a person's identity using biometric information.
- Elderly South Africans may be asked to complete HANIS verification if there is a problem confirming their identity.
- HANIS verification is not the same as a SASSA grant review, although the two processes can overlap.
