The SASSA Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant — commonly called the R370 grant — provides monthly financial support to unemployed South Africans aged 18 to 59 who are not receiving any other form of social grant or UIF payment. This guide covers who qualifies, how to apply, why applications get rejected, and what to do if yours was declined.
What Is the SRD Grant?
The SRD grant was introduced in May 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown as a temporary relief measure. It has been extended several times since and continues as an ongoing programme. As of 2026, the monthly amount is R370. It is paid directly to your registered bank account, Capitec account, or via Post Office cash payout, depending on your selection when applying.
Who Qualifies?
- South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee with valid status
- Aged 18 to 59 years
- Currently unemployed
- Not receiving any other SASSA grant (Old Age, Child Support, Disability, etc.)
- Not receiving UIF benefits
- Not receiving any form of income above the threshold
- Not a resident of a government-funded institution
SASSA verifies your financial status through a means test by checking your bank account activity. If your account shows regular income deposits above the grant threshold, your application will likely be declined on financial grounds even if you consider yourself unemployed.
How to Apply for the SRD Grant
Go to srd.sassa.gov.za
This is the only official application website for the SRD grant. Do not apply through any WhatsApp number, Facebook page, or third-party website — these are scams. The official application is online-only at srd.sassa.gov.za.
Enter your ID number and phone number
Your application is linked to your South African ID number. Enter your active phone number — SASSA will communicate with you via SMS. Make sure this is a number you have access to and that you can receive OTP codes on.
Verify via OTP
SASSA will send a one-time password to your phone number. Enter this to verify your identity and proceed with the application. This step prevents fraudulent applications using other people's ID numbers.
Provide your banking details
Enter your bank account details for payment. If you do not have a bank account, you can select a Post Office cash collection option. Double-check your account number before submitting — incorrect banking details cause payment failures and delays.
Monitor your application status
Check your status at srd.sassa.gov.za regularly using your ID number and phone number. The status options are "Pending," "Approved," "Declined," or "Payment Failed." Each status tells you what step to take next.
Why Applications Get Declined and What to Do
The most common decline reasons are: identity verification failure (your details do not match Home Affairs records), bank account income found (SASSA's bank check found deposits above the threshold), already receiving another grant, and UIF registration found. If your application is declined, SASSA provides a specific reason. You can appeal the decision at srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals within 90 days of the decline notification.
⚠️ The grant is R370 — not more. Anyone offering to help you receive a larger SRD grant amount or a lump sum payment is running a scam. SASSA will never contact you through WhatsApp asking for your banking details or ID number.
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