SASSA SRD Grant (R370)

The Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD Grant) was formed by the South African government during the pandemic. The aim of the SRD grant is to provide financial assistance to those who do not have any financial means to support themselves.

The SRD Grant is being increased to R370 (a R20 increase), from April 2024. This comes after an announcement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, on 13 March 2024, in the National Assembly.

The SRD Grant was formed in April 2022 and has been extended to 31 March 2025.

Check your SASSA status here

If you would like to find out more about the SRD Grant, carry on reading, as we provide answers to the following questions:

What are the requirements to apply for the SRD Grant?
How do I apply for the SRD Grant?
How do I check my application status for the SRD Grant?
What does my SRD Grant application status mean?
How will I get paid my SRD Grant?
Why was my SRD Grant application declined?
How do I apply to have my SRD Grant application reconsidered?
How do I appeal the decision of SRD Grant application?
How do I cancel my SRD Grant application?
How do I reinstate my SRD Grant application?
How do I change my contact details on my SRD Grant application?
How do I change my banking details on my SRD Grant application?
How do I change my name and surname on my SRD Grant application?
How do I contact SASSA for any queries I have regarding my SRD Grant application?

Status Check Types of Grants How to Apply Payment Dates Jobs & Vacancies Contact SASSA

REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR THE SASSA SRD GRANT

In order to apply for the SASSA SRD Grant, it is important that you meet the criteria to apply (note that these criteria may change). The criteria is as follows:

You must reside within South Africa
You must meet any 1 of these criteria:
- You must be a South African Citizen
- You must be a Refugee in South Africa
- You must be an Asylum Seeker in South Africa with a valid section 22 permit or visa
- You must be a Special Permit Holder in South Africa (under the Special Angolan Dispensation, the Lesotho Exemption Permit Dispensation or the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Dispensation)
You must be between 18 and 60 years old
You must meet the means test, with a income of R624 or less per month
You must be unemployed and NOT be receiving financial support from any other source
You must have insufficient financial means to support yourself
You must NOT be receiving any other social grants for yourself
You must NOT be contributing towards or eligible for UIF payment
You must NOT be unreasonably refuse to accept employment or educational opportunities
You must NOT be receiving a stipend from NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme)

INFORMATION REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING FOR THE SASSA SRD GRANT

When applying for an SRD Grant, applicants will have to read, agree to and sign 2 forms: the declaration form (you can read more about the SRD declaration here) and the consent form. SASSA requires these forms to verify and validate that the information provided in your application is correct.
You will need to submit the following personal information when applying, so make sure you have all your details on hand:

ID Number (or your passport number/ special permit if you are not a South African citizen)
Full Name and Surname (as stated on your official ID document/ passport)
Phone number (SASSA will use this number to contact you regarding your status so make sure you have access to this mobile number)
Physical Address

If you would like to find out about other types of SASSA grants, read more here:

SRD R350 Grant Care Dependency Grant Child Support Grant Foster Child Grant Disability Grant Older Persons Grant Grant-In-Aid War Veterans Grant

APPLYING FOR THE SASSA SRD GRANT

To apply for the SRD Grant, you will need a mobile phone, computer or laptop and internet access.
The SRD Grant application involves the following 6 steps:

STEP 1: CHOOSE AN APPLICATION METHOD

Applications for the SRD Grant can be submitted via WhatsApp, the SRD Website or via the SASSA Chatbot. You should only apply via one method – submitting more than one application will not speed up the process, in fact it may slow down your application.
Please read how to apply via each of these methods:

Apply via WhatsApp:

1) Send a message via WhatsApp to 082 046 8553
2) Provide your personal details
3) You will receive a Reference number, an OTP and and a link to click
4) Click on the provided link, fill in your OTP and verify your account
5) Fill in your surname and ID number
6) Confirm your personal details that you provided via the WhatsApp chat

Apply via the SRD Website:

1) In your internet browser, visit the SRD Website (if you are a Refugee, Asylum Seeker or Special Permit Holders, find out how to apply here)
2) Fill in your mobile number and ID number and click “send SMS”
3) You will receive a 6 digit OTP via SMS
4) Insert the OTP number on the SRD website and click “verify pin”

Apply via the SASSA Chatbot:

1) In your internet browser, visit the SASSA Website
2) Click on the SRD R350 Grant assistance chatbox (orange box on the side of the screen)
3) Fill in your ID number and mobile number
4) On the chat, choose the option to apply for the SRD R350 grant
5) Click on the SRD website link provided by the SASSA Chatbot
6) Follow the SRD website steps

STEP 2: AGREE TO THE T&C’S

Read and agree to the clauses on the Declaration and the Consent
Read and agree to the clauses on the You and Your Special COVID-19 SRD Grant document

STEP 3: PROVIDE YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS

Provide your personal information, including:

ID Number
Full Name and Surname (as printed on your ID Document/ ID Card)
Gender
Physical Address
Contact Information (mobile number, email address)
SASSA may request further information

STEP 4: CHOOSE YOUR PAYMENT OPTION / PROVIDE YOUR BANKING DETAILS

New applicants with a personal bank account, must provide the following information for payment:

Your Bank Name
Your Account Number
Your Branch Name
Your Account Type
Agree to the Terms and Conditions
Submit your Banking Details

New applicants without a personal bank account, must provide the following information for payment:

Choose Payment option – Cash Send
Agree to Terms and Conditions
Submit Banking Details

Existing applicants with a personal bank account, confirm the following information for payment:

Confirm Existing Personal Banking Details
Agree to Terms and Conditions
Click Submit

Existing applicants with the cash option, who would like to change to the bank payment option, provide the following information for payment:

Your Bank Name
Your Account Number
Your Branch Name
Your Account Type
Agree to the Terms and Conditions
Submit your Banking Details

STEP 5: RECEIVE AN SMS

Applicants will receive an SMS notifying them of their banking details. After receiving this SMS, the SRD R350 Grant application is now active.

STEP 6: SASSA VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION

SASSA verifies your personal information (ID Number, Name and Surname) against the Department of Home Affairs database.

SASSA matches your ID Number against approved databases such as UIF, SARS, NSFAS etc.
Fraud Risk Scoring is conducted with Fraud prevention partners, whereby your ID number and mobile number is checked against the approved databases.
Your application is then Approved or Declined with reason (see below a list of reasons for being declined).

That’s it! Congratulations – you have now submitted your application for the SRD Grant. In a few weeks time, you can check on the status of your application (see above).

Do you have a question about the SRD grant? Read our SRD Grant Questions and Answers page here.

CHECK YOUR SASSA SRD GRANT STATUS

If you have submitted your application for the SRD Grant and would like to find out the status, you can check your application status in either of these ways:

On the SRD grants website check your SRD Status here
Send a WhatsApp message to 082 046 8553
Call the Toll Free Call Centre on 0800 60 10 11

SASSA SRD GRANT STATUS MEANING

Here is an explanation of what your SRD grant application status means:

Application complete: this means you have completed the reapplication process and your SRD grant will be verified each month. Check your verification and payment status each month on the SRD website.
Bank details pending: this means the application or reapplication was received, but no banking details or preferences were received. Applicants should submit their banking details via the SRD website (see above, step 4 of the application process).
Reapplication pending: this means a reapplication has not been received. Applicants should submit their application (see above, how to apply).
Period Pending: this means reapplication was successfully received and verification of the application for the period is pending. Applicants should check their application status later in the month (see above, how to check your application status).
Period Approved: this means the application was approved for the period. Applicants should check the pay day for details on when to expect their money.
Period Declined: this means the application was declined for the period, as well as the reason why it was declined. Applicants should submit a request for reconsideration (see below, how to apply for reconsideration).
Canceled: this means the grant has been cancelled. Applicants may reinstate their grant on the SRD website (find out how to reinstate your SRD grant application here).

SASSA SRD GRANT PAYMENT

Your SRD Grant will be paid in any of these 2 ways (depending on your preference):

Directly into your bank account: see step 4 of the application process above.
Collected in cash: from Spar, Pick n Pay, Checkers, Shoprite, Boxer and USave stores. The Post Office will no longer be a collection point for the SRD grants.

Take along your ID document and cellphone (which has the contact number they used to apply for the grant) when collecting your grant payment.
When applying, you may select your preferred payment method. You may also change your preferred payment method.

REASONS FOR SASSA SRD GRANT DECLINE

Your SRD Grant may have been decline for a number of reasons – see below the decline reason and what it means:

Declined due to “alternative income source identified”: this means SASSA has identified money coming into your account over the threshold amount (currently R624), which means you do not qualify to receive the SRD grant for that month.
Declined due to “identity verification failed”: this means SASSA has picked up a discrepancy in the information you provided in your grant application compared to the information available on the Department of Home Affairs database. You may have spelled your name or ID number incorrectly.
Declined due to “existing sassa grant”: this means SASSA has identified that you are receiving another type of social grant and therefore do not qualify for the SRD grant.
Declined due to “nsfas registered”: this means SASSA has uncovered that you are receiving funding from NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme). SRD grant recipients cannot receive the R350 grant and NSFAS at the same time, however NSFAS recipients can receive other social grants if they qualify.
Declined due to “uif registered”: this means SASSA has identified that you received a UIF payment during the reconsidered period. According to the SRD grant criteria, applicants who receive UIF payments do not qualify for the R350 grant for that particular month.
Declined due to “gov payrol registered”: this means SASSA has determined that you are or were employed within a government institution for the month you are applying for the grant.
Declined due to “age outside range (over 60)”: this means SASSA has determined that you do not meet the criteria for the SRD grant, based on your age. Applicants over 60 years old should rather apply for the Older Person Grant.
Declined due to “age outside range (under 18)”: this means SASSA has determined that you do not meet the criteria for the SRD grant, based on your age. Applicants over 60 years old should rather apply for the Child Support Grant.
Declined due to “deceased record on DHA”: this means SASSA has identified the applicant as deceased, according to the Department of Home Affairs database. It is a criminal offence to apply for a social grant on behalf of a deceased person.

(If you do not agree with the reason for your decline, you can appeal by following the steps below.)

HOW LONG WILL YOU RECEIVE THE SASSA SRD GRANT FOR

The SRD grant is set to continue until 31 March 2025. There is no final answer as to what will happen to the R350 grant after this date.
You will receive the SRD Grant as long as you meet the requirements. Applicants are not required to reconfirm their grant applications, due to SASSA’s amended regulations.
Existing applicants can update their responses to the screening questionnaire if their circumstances change, as well as to correct errors.

APPLY FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE SRD GRANT

If your application was declined, you may apply for reconsideration within 30 days of receiving the declined reason. You may request reconsideration for each month that your application is declined.
You can apply for reconsideration in either of these ways:

On the SRD Website (under the Application for Reconsideration tab)
Call the Toll Free Call Centre on 0800 60 10 11

APPEAL YOUR SRD GRANT

If your application was declined, but you meet all the criteria, you may submit an appeal to have your application reassessed by the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA). Find out more about submitting an appeal for your SRD grant here.
Applicants may follow these steps to appeal:

Visit the SRD Appeals Website
Fill in your ID number
Fill in your mobile number that you used in your application and click “send pin”
Insert the pin into the SRD Appeals Website and click “submit”
Select the month you would like to appeal for
From the drop-down menu, select the reason for your appeal
Click “submit” to complete the appeal application process

Applicants will be required to submit a new appeal application for each month in which their application was declined.

CANCEL YOUR SASSA SRD GRANT

If you no longer meet the requirements for the SRD Grant, you should apply for cancellation by following these steps:

Visit the SRD Website (under the Cancel my Application tab)
Provide your ID number and mobile number, and click “send pin” to receive a 6 digit OTP via SMS
Insert the OTP number on the SRD website and click “verify pin”
Click “cancel my grant”
A message will pop up to verify if you would like to cancel the grant – click “yes” to proceed with the cancellation

REINSTATE YOUR SASSA SRD GRANT

If you previously cancelled your application but would like to resume your SRD grant, follow these steps:

Visit the SRD Website (under the Cancel my Application tab: reinstate my cancelled grant application)
Provide your ID number and mobile number, and click “send pin” to receive a 6 digit OTP via SMS
Insert the OTP number on the SRD website and click “verify pin”
Agree to the Terms and Conditions
Click “reinstate my grant”
A message will pop up to verify if you would like to reinstate the grant – click “yes” to proceed with the reinstatement

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS DETAILS ON YOUR SRD GRANT

If your contact details have changed, you should update the SRD grant system to ensure you carry on receiving payments. Applicants can change their contact details on the SRD Website.

UPDATE YOUR BANKING DETAILS DETAILS ON YOUR SRD GRANT

If you would like to change your banking details for the SRD grant payment, you must do so on the SRD website, by following these steps:

Visit the SRD Website (scroll down to the “How do I change my banking details” tab, about half way down the page)
Fill in your ID number
You will receive an SMS with a unique secure link, to the mobile number you registered with
Click on the link and follow the instructions
Select your payment method:
- If you are requesting the payment into your bank account, you will need to be the owner of the bank account (the grant cannot be paid into another person’s bank account)
- If you select the money transfer option via one of the major banks, ensure that the mobile number on which you received the SMS is registered in your name (the grant cannot be paid into another person’s mobile number)
The new banking details will only be used for future payments, after verification

Note: your bank account will have to be verified each time you change it, which may cause a payment delay.

UPDATE YOUR NAME AND SURNAME ON YOUR SRD GRANT

If your application was declined due to an incorrect name or surname provided in your application, you may apply for change of their name on the SRD website, by following these steps:

Visit the SRD Website (scroll down to the “Request Names and Surname Update” tab, near the bottom of the page)
Fill in your ID number, Name and Surname exactly as it appears in your ID Document or ID Card
Your names and surname will only be updated if it matches your details on the Department of Home Affairs database.

If you have a question regarding the SRD grant, visit our blog & news page where we post answers to questions you may have

CONTACT SASSA

For any further queries, please contact SASSA directly:
Contact the SASSA Toll Free Call centre on: 0800 60 10 11
Contact the SASSA Head Office on: 012 400 2322
Email SASSA Head Office at: Grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
Contact details of SASSA offices across the country: SASSA offices