South African Social Security Agency
Social Relief of Distress (SRD R370)
At a glance
- Amount
- R370 / month
- Age range
- 18-59 years
- Income cap
- R624 / month
- Application
- Online only
- Review cycle
- Monthly
- Payment
- Bank, Postbank or cash send
- Verification
- SARS, UIF, Home Affairs, banks
- Appeal window
- 30 days
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant is a monthly payment of R370 for unemployed South Africans who get no other grant or income support. SASSA checks every applicant again each month, so you can be approved one month and declined the next.
Who qualifies
- South African citizen, permanent resident or recognised refugee
- Aged 18 to 59
- Unemployed and not receiving another SASSA grant, UIF or NSFAS
- Less than R624 coming into your bank account in the month being checked
- Living in South Africa
Who does not qualify
- Under 18, or 60 and older
- Receiving another SASSA grant, UIF or an NSFAS allowance
- More than R624 coming into your account that month
- Living in a state-funded institution
Documents you need
- Your 13-digit South African ID number
- A cellphone number registered in your own name
- A bank account in your own name, or choose cash send
- Consent for SASSA to check your details with other departments
How to apply
- Open the official SRD website at srd.sassa.gov.za or use SASSA WhatsApp on 082 046 8553.
- Enter your ID number and cellphone number. You will get a one-time PIN by SMS.
- Give consent for SASSA to check your details with Home Affairs, SARS, UIF and NSFAS.
- Add your banking details, or choose cash send.
- Submit. Your status shows Pending while SASSA runs its checks.
- Check your status every month. Approval is for one month at a time.
Money from family counts as income
SASSA looks at all money coming into your bank account, not only wages. Cash send from family, loans and stokvel payouts can push you over R624 for that month.
Status codes explained
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Approved | You qualify for that month. | Make sure your bank details are correct and wait for pay day. |
| Pending | SASSA is still checking your details. | Check again in 5 to 10 working days. Do not reapply. |
| Declined | You did not pass one of the checks. | Ask for reconsideration within 30 days. |
| Referred | Your file needs extra checks. | Wait for an SMS. Only act if SASSA asks you to. |
| Bank details pending | Approved, but your bank details could not be verified. | Update your banking details on the SRD website. |
Payment dates
SASSA pays approved SRD applicants in batches, usually in the last week or two of the month. Your exact date shows on your status once the month is approved.
Upcoming SRD pay runs
Month Pay run Status October 2026 23-27 Oct This pay run November 2026 24-27 Nov Upcoming December 2026 15-19 Dec Upcoming
The SRD amount is still R370
Ignore messages that offer a higher "new" SRD amount for a fee. Any change is announced by government and published by SASSA.
R624 means test
SASSA adds up the money that came into your bank account in the month being checked. If the total is more than R624, that month is declined. Try our SRD means-test calculator.
It is checked one month at a time
One large deposit can decline a single month even if your other months are low.
Reconsideration and appeals
A decline is not final. You have 30 days from the decline to ask SASSA to look at it again.
- Log in to srd.sassa.gov.za with the ID and number you applied with.
- Choose the declined month and request a reconsideration.
- Pick the reason you disagree with and submit.
- Track the outcome on the same website. It can take up to 90 days.
Do not reapply instead of appealing
A new application does not fix a declined month. Use reconsideration for that.
Still not happy?
After reconsideration you can appeal to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA).
Scam watch
- SASSA never asks for your banking PIN or password.
- SASSA never charges a fee to apply or to "fast-track" a payment.
- Only use websites that end in .gov.za. Check any link with our website legit checker.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SRD grant still R370?
Yes. The SRD stays at R370 a month until government announces a change.
Can I get SRD and Child Support at the same time?
Yes. The Child Support Grant is paid for the child, so it does not stop you from getting the SRD.
How long does reconsideration take?
Usually between a few weeks and 90 days. You can track it on the official SRD website.
Why does my status say pending every month?
SASSA checks every applicant again each month. Pending means the checks for that month are not finished yet.