SASSA SRD Grant Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
The Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD Grant) was implemented by the South African government during Covid-19, to provide temporary financial relief to poor citizens in South Africa, who have no other means to support themselves. The grant is intended to provide citizens with a very basic source of funds for 3 months, which may be extended for a further 3 months if their situation does not improve.
If you have questions about the SRD grant, we hope to be able to answer them below.
1. Who qualifies to apply for the SRD grant?
The Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD Grant) is for South African Citizens, Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Special Permit Holders, between the ages of 18 and 60 years. Applicants must be unemployed, have no financial support, unable to support themselves and not be receiving any other social grants (on behalf of themself), not be contributing to UIF and not be eligible for UIF payment.
READ all about the SASSA SRD Grant here
2. How much does the SRD grant pay and for how long?
Applicants will receive R350 per month. The SRD grant has been extended until March 2024 (this was announced in the 2023 budget speech on 22 February 2023).
3. How and when will the SRD grant be paid?
Applicants can choose how they would like the grant to be paid – either into their personal bank account (you will need to provide your banking details for this option) or via cash send (if you do not have a personal bank account).
There is no set payment date for the SRD grant – previously, when the SRD grant was paid by the Post Office, payment dates were determined by the beneficiaries last three digits of their ID number. Since the Post Office no longer pays SRD R350 grants from its branches, the SRD grant is paid as and when SASSA approves it.
Social grant recipients should check their SASSA status regularly (see point 6 below), to check when their payment has been approved and their payment date set. Recipients will also receive communication from SASSA once their application is approved for the month.
4. How can I apply?
Applications for the SRD grant can be done in either of 3 ways: on the SRD website, via WhatsApp or via the SASSA chatbot. Read more about each method of applying here: SASSA SRD Grant Application. Please only apply once to avoid any delays in your application.
5. What documents are required when applying for the R350 grant?
No documents are required when applying – applicants must fill in all the required information at the application stage. Applicants must provide SASSA with a cellphone number where they can be reached to receive feedback on the status of their application.
6. How can I check if my SRD grant was approved (status check)?
Applications are assessed within 30-90 days of applying. To check the status of your SRD grant application, you will need to have your ID number and cellphone number ready. Find out how to do a SASSA Status Check here.
7. What does my SRD status mean?
After your application has been assessed, you will receive a status update (it will say any of the following: Application complete / Bank details pending / Reapplication pending / Period (e.g. November) Pending / Period (e.g. November) Approved / Period (e.g. November) Declined / Canceled). Read about what each status means and the next steps you should take here: SASSA SRD Status.
8. What can I do if my application was declined?
If your SRD application was declined, you can appeal the SASSA decision by lodging an appeal with the Department of Social Development (DSD). You will need to lodge a separate appeal for each month your grant was declined – you will receive details on how to lodge an appeal with the notification that your application has been declined. Find out how to lodge an appeal here: SASSA SRD Grant Appeal.
9. How can I update my personal details on my SRD application?
If any of your responses to the screening questionnaire have changed since you applied for the SRD grant, you must let SASSA know immediately. If you fail to update your information, it could result in your grant application being declined. Update your SRD application here.
10. How can I update my name or surname on my SRD grant application?
When applying for the R350 grant, applicants must enter their ID Number, names and surname exactly as it appears in their South African green ID Document or on your Smart ID Card. Personal information must match your details on the Department of Home Affairs database. Update your name/ surname on the SRD website
If you cannot find the answer to your SRD question here, please leave a comment below and we will try our best to assist.
Types of SASSA grants:
SRD R350 Grant Care Dependency Grant Child Support Grant Foster Child Grant Disability Grant Older Persons Grant Grant-In-Aid War Veterans Grant
You may be interested in reading about:
Types of Grants How to Apply Status Check Payment Dates Jobs & Vacancies Updates & Blog Contact SASSA
QUERIES AND CONTACT
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 contact details