Managed by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), the Department of Social Development‘s Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant has been assisting about eight million eligible South Africans, refugees and asylum seekers since May 2020.
The SRD grant increased from R350 to R370 in April 2024, with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announcing in his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) the extension of the grant until 31 March 2025.
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The agency’s head of communications, Paleka Letsatsi, confirmed the payment schedules of the remaining three months of the SRD grant to The Citizen. The dates are as follows:
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According to Sassa, existing SRD grant beneficiaries don’t have to re-apply for grant payments in 2025.
The agency explained that individuals who submitted valid applications from previous months are automatically considered for subsequent monthly SRD grant payments and there is no need to re-apply each month.
The agency warned SRD grant applicants to avoid submitting duplicate applications, as the system is designed to review ongoing applications without requiring further action from recipients.
If you’ve been approved once and your circumstances haven’t changed, you will automatically be approved for the following month.
During the payment week, Sassa recommends recipients check their Sassa status on the SRD website to confirm the exact date their grant payment will be in their bank accounts.
Grant recipients should bear in mind that it could take around two to three working days for funds to reflect in a beneficiary’s account after the payment has been processed.
The following are some of the requirements that persons must meet to be eligible to receive the SRD grant:
Sassa has introduced a biometric verification system for beneficiaries to counter fraud.
New SRD grant applicants now have to complete biometric verification as a mandatory step before they are approved for the grant.
If you’re already a beneficiary of any Sassa grant, you don’t have to do anything unless you experience problems with your grant application.
For detailed information about the biometric verification process, you can contact Sassa’s Toll-Free Call Centre on 0800 60 10 11 or send a WhatsApp to 082-046-8553.
Sassa offers various ways to receive your R370 grant payment.
If you’re a recipient of the SRD grant, you can opt to have the payment directly deposited into your bank account. This method ensures prompt access to your funds as soon as they’re available.
For individuals without a personal bank account, the Cash Send payment option is available for receiving the SRD grant payment.
This method requires your ID number and phone number for access. You’ll need a cellphone with a registered number and valid identification for this collection method.
Numerous retail stores across the country, such as Pick n Pay, Checkers, Shoprite and Boxer stores, facilitate the R370 grant collection.
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