SASSA SRD R370 Grant 2026 — Eligibility, Amounts & How to Apply
Everything you need to know about the SASSA Social Relief of Distress R370 grant — who qualifies, how the means test works, why people get declined, and how to apply or reapply.
R370/month Updated July 2026 All Grant Types Covered
What Is the SASSA SRD R370 Grant?
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant is a monthly payment from the South African government for unemployed people who have no income and no other social grant. It was introduced in May 2020 as an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions of South Africans lost their jobs overnight.
The grant originally paid R350 per month. In April 2024 it was increased to R370 per month, where it remains today. If you still search for the "R350 grant", you are looking for the same thing — only the amount has changed.
📈 Grant History — From R350 to R370
The SRD grant started at R350 in May 2020 and stayed at that amount for four years through multiple extensions and budget reviews. In April 2024 it was increased to R370. Advocacy groups continue to push for a permanent Basic Income Grant (BIG) to replace it — the future of the grant beyond the current financial year depends on the national budget each year.
Who Qualifies for the SRD R370 Grant?
You must meet every one of these requirements. SASSA checks all of them automatically every month against government databases:
- You are a South African citizen, permanent resident, or recognised refugee with a valid South African ID document.
- You are between 18 and 59 years old. If you are 60 or older, apply for the Older Persons Grant instead.
- You are currently unemployed and not earning any income from employment.
- Your total monthly income from all sources is below R624. This includes bank deposits, family transfers, and any other money received.
- You are not receiving any other SASSA grant — Child Support, Disability, Older Persons, Foster Child, or any other.
- You are not registered for UIF, or you are registered but not currently receiving UIF payments.
- You are not currently receiving NSFAS student funding.
- You are not registered as employed on the Department of Labour database.
The Means Test — Why People Keep Getting Declined
The means test is the automated monthly check SASSA runs on every applicant's financial situation. It is the biggest source of confusion and unexpected declines. Understanding it can help you avoid being wrongly flagged.
Every month, SASSA checks your bank account activity and cross-references your ID against these government databases:
| Database Checked | What SASSA Looks For | Disqualifies You If... |
|---|---|---|
| SARS (Tax) | Income tax registrations and payments | You are registered as a taxpayer with income above R624/month |
| Banking data | Monthly account balance and deposits | Any deposit above R624 in the check period |
| UIF (Dept of Labour) | UIF registration and payment status | You are currently receiving UIF payments |
| NSFAS | Student funding registration | You are currently registered as an NSFAS recipient |
| SASSA grants | Other active grants under your ID | Any other active SASSA grant exists under your name |
| Home Affairs | ID verification and status | Your ID does not match Home Affairs records |
| Dept of Labour | Employment status | You are registered as employed (even if you lost that job) |
Common Means Test False Positives — When SASSA Gets It Wrong
A false positive is when SASSA's system thinks you have income, but you do not. These are the most common situations:
📸 Family member sent you money
Any deposit into your account — even from a parent or sibling — can be detected as income. If it appears regularly, SASSA may flag it as employment income.
📸 Old employment record not updated
If you lost your job but your former employer has not updated the Department of Labour records, you may still appear as employed in SASSA's system.
📸 UIF registered but not receiving
Being registered for UIF does not mean you are getting payments. SASSA sometimes flags people as UIF recipients when they are only registered, not receiving.
📸 Loan deposited into account
A loan from a bank, a stokvel, or a family member looks like income to SASSA's system. You must explain this in an appeal with bank statements.
✅ How to fix a false positive
Submit an appeal immediately at srd.dsd.gov.za/appeals. Explain the source of the detected income with bank statements or a supporting letter. See the full appeal guide.
✅ NSFAS completed
If you finished your studies or de-registered from NSFAS, get a de-registration letter from nsfas.org.za and include it in your appeal.
⚠️ The R624 Threshold Is Very Low
R624 per month is less than R21 per day. Even a single grocery money transfer from a family member can push you over this threshold and trigger a decline for that month. If you regularly receive money from family, consider asking them to send it via a different method that does not appear as a bank deposit, or keep the amounts below R624.
All SASSA Grant Amounts — 2026
The SRD R370 is the smallest SASSA grant. If you are 60 or older, have a disability, or care for children or dependants, you may qualify for a larger grant instead:
| Grant Type | Who It Is For | Monthly Amount (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| SRD R370 Grant | Unemployed adults aged 18–59 with no income | R370 |
| Child Support Grant | Primary caregivers of children under 18 | R530 |
| Foster Child Grant | Foster parents with a court order | R1,180 |
| Care Dependency Grant | Parents of severely disabled children | R2,315 |
| Disability Grant | Adults 18–59 with a medical disability | R2,315 |
| Older Persons Grant (60–74) | South African citizens aged 60–74 | R2,315 |
| Older Persons Grant (75+) | South African citizens aged 75 and older | R2,335 |
| War Veterans Grant | Veterans of specified wars aged 60+ | R2,335 |
| Grant-in-Aid | Grant recipients who need full-time care | R530 |
🏗 Turning 60? Switch to the Older Persons Grant
If you are currently receiving the SRD R370 grant and you are about to turn 60, apply for the Older Persons Grant at your nearest SASSA office before your 60th birthday. The Older Persons Grant pays R2,315 per month — more than six times the SRD amount — and you cannot receive both at the same time.
How to Apply for the SRD R370 Grant
All applications are submitted online at srd.sassa.gov.za. There is no paper form. You do not need to visit a SASSA office to apply for the first time.
- Go to srd.sassa.gov.za on any phone or computer.
- Click Apply for SRD Grant and enter your cellphone number.
- Enter the OTP sent to your phone to verify your number.
- Enter your 13-digit South African ID number and confirm your personal details.
- Enter your banking details — the account must be in your own name. Alternatively, choose a cash collection method.
- Read and accept the Declaration and Consent — this gives SASSA permission to check your details against government databases every month.
- Click Submit. Save the 6-digit Application Reference Number shown on your confirmation screen.
- Check your application status at srd.sassa.gov.za after 2–3 weeks using your ID and registered phone number.
⚠️ Use a Bank Account in Your Own Name
SASSA will only pay into a bank account registered in your name. If you use a family member's account, your payment will be rejected. Supported banks include Capitec, FNB, ABSA, Standard Bank, Nedbank, TymeBank, and African Bank. If you do not have a bank account, open a free Capitec or TymeBank account before applying.
How to Check Your SRD R370 Grant Status
Once you have applied, check your result every month using any of these four free methods:
Online (Fastest)
Go to srd.sassa.gov.za. Enter your ID and registered phone number. Your result appears immediately. Works 24 hours a day — except between midnight and 4 am for maintenance.
Save 082 046 8553 as a contact. Send any message to start. Follow the prompts and enter your ID when asked. This method uses zero data and is completely free.
USSD (No Data Needed)
Dial *134*7737# and press call. Follow the menu. Works on any South African phone without data or airtime. Completely free.
Call SASSA
Call the free helpline 0800 60 10 11. Have your 13-digit SA ID number ready before you call. The call is free from any South African phone.
Do You Need to Reapply Every Month?
No. You do not need to reapply every month. Once you have applied and been approved, SASSA reviews your eligibility automatically each month using government databases. As long as your circumstances have not changed, your grant continues without any action from you.
However, there are situations where you need to take action:
If Your Phone Number Changes
Update your number immediately at srd.sassa.gov.za. If you do not, you will not receive payment date SMS notifications and you will not be able to log in to check your status.
If Your Bank Account Changes
Update your banking details at srd.sassa.gov.za as soon as you switch banks or open a new account. Payments to closed or incorrect accounts are returned to SASSA and may take weeks to reprocess.
If Your Grant Is Cancelled
If your grant is cancelled for any reason, you must reapply as a new applicant at srd.sassa.gov.za. Your previous approval history is kept, but a new application is required. See the reapplication guide.
If You Are Declined for a Month
A monthly decline does not cancel your overall application. Submit an appeal at srd.dsd.gov.za/appeals within 90 days for that specific month. Your application continues automatically for future months.
💡 Keep Your Details Up to Date
The most common reason for missed payments among approved applicants is outdated banking details. If you change banks, update your details at srd.sassa.gov.za immediately — do not wait until your next payment date.
SRD Grant History — From R350 to R370 and Beyond
The SRD grant has gone through several key changes since it was introduced. Here is the full history:
| Period | Amount | Key Development |
|---|---|---|
| May 2020 – March 2021 | R350/month | Introduced as COVID-19 emergency relief |
| April 2021 – March 2022 | R350/month | Extended — COVID-19 economic impact continued |
| April 2022 – March 2023 | R350/month | Extended again — made a permanent relief measure |
| April 2023 – March 2024 | R350/month | Continued at R350 — means test introduced |
| April 2024 – present | R370/month | Increased to R370 — first increase in 4 years |
| 2027 and beyond | TBC | Advocates pushing for Basic Income Grant (BIG) to replace SRD permanently |
🚧 Will the SRD Grant Be Extended Beyond 2026?
The SRD grant requires annual budget approval. The current extension runs through March 2027. The South African government has not yet committed to making it permanent. Advocacy groups such as the Black Sash and SASSA beneficiary organisations continue to push for a permanent Basic Income Grant. Check sassa.gov.za for official announcements as the budget season approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
The SASSA SRD grant pays R370 per month in 2026. It was increased from R350 in April 2024. The amount is reviewed each year in the national budget. Check sassa.gov.za for any official announcements about future changes.
Yes. Having a bank account does not disqualify you. However, if any deposit in your account pushes your total monthly balance above R624, SASSA may decline you for that month. SASSA checks your banking activity automatically every month through the banking system.
This is usually caused by a means test false positive. Common causes include: a family member depositing money into your account, an old employment record that has not been updated, UIF registration that makes SASSA think you are receiving payments, or a NSFAS registration that was not properly closed. Submit an appeal at srd.dsd.gov.za/appeals with three months of bank statements explaining any detected income.
No. Once approved, SASSA automatically reviews your eligibility each month. You only need to reapply if your grant is cancelled. You do need to update your details if your phone number or banking details change.
They are the same grant. The SRD grant paid R350 per month from May 2020 until March 2024. In April 2024, the amount was increased to R370 per month. The eligibility requirements, application process, and status check method are identical. If you are still searching for the R350 grant, you are in the right place.
When you turn 60, you become eligible for the Older Persons Grant which pays R2,315 per month — much more than the R370 SRD grant. You cannot receive both at the same time. Apply for the Older Persons Grant at your nearest SASSA office before your 60th birthday so there is no gap in your payments.
Yes. You can check on behalf of a family member using their 13-digit ID number and the cellphone number they registered with. You will need access to their registered phone to receive the OTP verification code. The status check itself is at srd.sassa.gov.za and is completely free.
More SASSA Guides
SassaToday.co.za is an independent information website. We are not affiliated with SASSA or the South African Government. All content is for educational and informational purposes only. For official services, always visit srd.sassa.gov.za or sassa.gov.za. Last reviewed: July 2026.