How to Apply for the SASSA SRD Grant
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant of R370 a month is applied for online only, free, on the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) portal at srd.sassa.gov.za. You need your own 13-digit ID number, an active phone number in your name to receive a one-time PIN, and your details exactly as they appear on your ID. There is no paper form and no office application. After you submit, SASSA re-checks the application every month against government and bank records.
Apply for the SRD grant
Opens the official SASSA portal. Applying is free — never pay anyone to apply for you.
What do I need before I start?
Tick what you already have. The check runs on your phone and nothing is sent or saved.
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How do I apply?
- Open the official portal. Go to https://srd.sassa.gov.za. It is the only place to apply; nowhere else is official.
- Select your applicant category. South African ID holder, or asylum seeker or special permit holder.
- Go to the application section. Choose to apply and enter your ID number.
- Verify your phone number. Enter it, wait for the SMS one-time PIN, and type it in.
- Complete the application. Enter your personal details exactly as on your ID, add your address and upload any documents the portal asks for, answer the declaration questions truthfully, add your payment choice, and submit.
Free, and only on the portal
SASSA does not charge to apply, and no person, office, WhatsApp number or other website can apply for you. Anyone asking for a fee or your PIN is a scammer.
What happens after I apply?
Your application enters the monthly cycle. Each month SASSA matches you against Home Affairs, the South African Revenue Service (SARS), UIF, NSFAS, your bank and other grant records. You do not apply again each month: the same application is re-assessed.
| Stage | What happens | Usual time | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| First assessment | SASSA matches your details against government and bank records. | A first application commonly shows Pending for 30 to 90 days. | Status check |
| Identity check, if SASSA asks | An SMS link to your registered number opens a face check, valid for about 72 hours. | Results take 48 hours to 21 working days. | Identity verification |
| Bank verification | Your bank account is verified with the bank before it is used. | Up to 7 working days for a change, up to 21 for a new application. | Banking details |
| Approved, with a payment date | A date appears once your month is placed in a batch. | Money usually reflects within 3 working days of the date. | Approved but no payment date |
What do the results mean?
Each month shows as Approved, Pending, Declined or Referred on the SRD status check. Only an Approved month with a payment date beside it is scheduled for payment. The full list of results and what to do for each is on the status-check page.
What if my application stays Pending?
Pending means that month's checks are not finished. Reapplying does not speed it up and can create a duplicate application. Read why a month stays pending, or clear a referred status if the portal shows Referred.
What mistakes delay or decline an application?
| Mistake | What happens | How to avoid it | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Details that do not match your ID | The month can be declined as identity verification failed. | Enter your name, ID number and date of birth exactly as on your ID, then complete the identity check. | Identity verification |
| A phone number you cannot use | The one-time PIN and every verification link go to it, so checks and changes stall. | Use an active number in your own name. If you lost it, change it on the portal first. | Changing your phone number |
| A bank account that is not yours or not active | SASSA rejects it and assigns no payment date until an active account in your name is confirmed. | Use your own active account, and confirm it is verified before the pay run. | Banking details |
| Applying again while one is active | It can create a duplicate application and delay you. | Check your status instead of reapplying. | Status check |
| Income of R624 or more, UIF or an NSFAS bursary | The month is declined. Alternative income is the most common decline reason. | Check what counts as income before you apply. | What counts as income |
| Paying someone, or sharing your OTP or PIN | Applying is free. Anyone who asks is not SASSA, and your OTP lets someone change your banking details. | Apply yourself on the official portal and never share a code. | Fake status sites |
When do I need to reapply or reinstate?
- Reapplication required as a status means SASSA needs a fresh application — follow the wording on the portal.
- Cancelled when you did not cancel it: use the reinstate option on the portal rather than applying again.
- Declined is not a reason to reapply. Fix the cause or appeal the month.
SRD grant at a glance
- Monthly amount
- R370 SRD regulations
- Income limit
- Below R624 a month, from any source SRD regulations
- Who can apply
- Adults aged 18 to 59 living in South Africa, with a South African ID, refugee status or a valid permit SRD regulations
- Funded until
- 31 March 2027 2026 Budget
- Appeal window
- 90 days from a declined month SRD regulations
- Apply and check status
- srd.sassa.gov.za — free SASSA
- SASSA toll-free line
- 0800 60 10 11 SASSA
Checked against official sources, August 2026. This site is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with SASSA or any South African government department.
Common questions
Can I apply at a SASSA office or by WhatsApp?
No. The SRD grant is applied for on the online portal only. Offices and WhatsApp can help with status queries, not applications.
Who can apply for the SRD grant?
Adults aged 18 to 59 living in South Africa with a South African ID, refugee status or a valid permit, whose income from all sources is below R624 a month. The full rules, including who is excluded, are on who qualifies for the SRD grant.
How long does approval take?
There is no fixed time. A first application often shows Pending for 30 to 90 days while every database is matched.
Do I apply again every month?
No. One application is re-assessed monthly. Reapplying while one is active can create a duplicate and delay you.
Can someone apply for me?
No. No person, office, WhatsApp number or other website can apply for you, and the application must use your own ID and a phone number in your name. You can help a family member on their own phone, but never give their details or one-time PIN to anyone else.
What if my phone number changes after I apply?
Update it on the portal: see changing your SRD phone number. Status checks and SMS links only work with the number SASSA has on record.
Is the SRD grant R350 or R370?
It is R370 a month. R350 was the earlier amount, so a search for an R350 application leads to the same grant and the same portal. See R350 or R370.
Can I still apply for the SRD grant?
The SRD grant is funded until 31 March 2027, and applications are made on srd.sassa.gov.za. Any change to the rules or an application window is announced by SASSA first, so check the portal before you start.
Sources: srd.sassa.gov.za; SRD regulations under the Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004. Last verified August 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and the page is corrected and re-dated.
Reviewed by Haris Shafique, Editorial reviewer against official SASSA sources on . How we check our facts