SASSA SRD R350 Grant: Apply, Status, Payments Guide 2025
The SASSA SRD R350 grant helps unemployed South Africans meet basic needs. In 2025, the amount increased to R370. At RandHub, our guide explains what it is, who qualifies, how to apply, and how to access your money.
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What Is SASSA?
SASSA stands for the South African Social Security Agency. It is a government body that provides financial support to vulnerable South Africans. The agency manages grants for elderly people, children with disabilities, and unemployed adults. SASSA’s main job is help people who cannot support themselves financially.
What is the SASSA R350 Grant?
The R350 grant, now called the R370 grant, is officially known as the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. The government introduced it during the COVID-19 pandemic as emergency relief. It was meant to be temporary, but millions of people depend on it. In November 2025, the government extended it until March 2027.
You receive R370 per month. This increased from R350 for the first time in 2024. The money helps with basic needs like food, transport, and household bills. However, R370 is below the food poverty line of R624. This means the grant alone is not enough to meet all basic needs.
Who Can Apply for the R350 Grant?
You qualify for the R350 grant if you meet these requirements:
Citizenship: You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or registered refugee. You must live in South Africa.
Age: You must be between 18 and 59 years old. People aged 60 and above qualify for the Old Age Grant instead.
Employment: You must be unemployed with no regular income. If you have a job or earn money, you will not qualify.
Income: Your monthly income must be below approximately R370. SASSA checks your bank account to verify this.
Other Grants: You cannot receive any other government grant at the same time. This includes unemployment benefits, student grants, disability grants, or child support grants.
Restrictions: You cannot receive government COVID-19 support. You also cannot live in a government-funded institution.
How to Apply for the R350 Grant?
Applying is simple and takes about 5-10 minutes.
Visit srd.sassa.gov.za and click “Apply Now.” Enter your South African ID number and phone number. Confirm your details, then provide your residential address and bank details if you have an account. Review your information carefully before submitting.
After submission, you receive an SMS confirmation with your application reference number. Save this number. You can check your application status anytime using your ID and phone number on the SASSA website.
Important: There is no fee to apply. The application is completely free.
How SASSA Verifies Your Information?
SASSA checks your application in several steps. First, they verify your identity by checking your details against the Department of Home Affairs database. They confirm you are who you say you are and that you are a South African citizen or refugee.
Next, SASSA checks your income by accessing your bank account information. They review your deposits over time to calculate your average monthly income. Regular deposits from employment disqualify you. However, one-time gifts or occasional deposits usually do not.
If verification succeeds, your status changes to “Approved.” If there are problems, your status becomes “Identity Verification Failed” or you receive a decline reason.
How do SASSA R350 payments work?
Once approved, SASSA pays you R370 every month. Payments start after the 20th of each month and continue throughout the month. Not everyone gets paid on the same date because SASSA staggers payments to prevent overcrowding.
You can receive your money through several methods:
- Bank Transfer: Money goes directly to your bank account. This is the safest option.
- Postbank Black Card: SASSA replaced the gold card with a black card in 2025. This card works at all ATMs and retail stores.
- Cash Send: You collect cash from retailers like Shoprite, Checkers, or Pick n Pay without needing a bank account.
- Retail Outlets: You can withdraw cash or make purchases at major retailers.
- Post Office: Some post offices allow cash collection, though they sometimes run out of cash during busy times.
How do I check my SASSA payment?
To check if your payment is ready, visit srd.sassa.gov.za and enter your ID and phone number. Your status will show whether you are approved, pending payment, or already paid.
You can also call SASSA at 0800 60 10 11 during business hours. Use the Moya app on your phone to check your status. At any Postbank retailer or ATM, you can check your card balance.
What If My SRD Application Is Declined?
If SASSA rejects your application, you have the right to appeal within 30 days. Visit srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals, enter your ID and phone number, and explain why you think the decision was wrong. Upload supporting documents like bank statements proving your income is low.
Your appeal goes to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA). They review your case independently and make a final decision. This typically takes 60-90 days.
Common reasons for decline include income above the threshold, incomplete information, or duplicate applications. If income was too high, wait until your income drops and reapply. If information was incomplete, appeal with corrected details.
What if the identity verification is not successful?
If your identity verification fails, it usually means your details do not match Department of Home Affairs records. This happens due to typographical errors, name spelling differences, or outdated information.
Check your application details carefully. Ensure your name and ID number exactly match your ID document. If you recently changed your name, update your Department of Home Affairs information first, then reapply.
You can appeal the failed verification within 30 days. Provide supporting documents explaining the discrepancy.
Is the SASSA R350 Grant Permanent?
No, the R350 grant is not permanent. It is a temporary social welfare program currently extended until March 2027. After that date, the government has not announced whether it will continue.
The grant costs approximately R3.33 billion per month. With about 9 million recipients, this is significant. The government must balance helping unemployed people with managing the national budget.
Many groups advocate for making the grant permanent, arguing that unemployment remains high and people need ongoing support.
How do check your unclaimed or Uncollected SASSA Funds?
If you do not collect your payment within a grace period, SASSA redirects it to other eligible beneficiaries. You lose access to that money permanently.
To avoid missing payments, keep your phone number updated with SASSA. Update your address if you move. Provide working bank details. Check your status regularly. If you repeatedly miss cash collections, switch to bank deposit.
If you missed collecting a payment, contact SASSA immediately at 0800 60 10 11 or visit a SASSA office. Explain why you missed it. Act immediately because after a certain period, the funds cannot be recovered.
What Bank Does SASSA Use?
SASSA uses Postbank as its primary banking partner. Postbank manages the SASSA card system and processes payments. Postbank does not charge beneficiaries bank fees. The government covers transaction costs.
You do not have to use Postbank. You can request payment to your personal bank account instead. You can also use cash send services or collect from retail outlets.
How to select Post Office for SASSA R350 Grant
The South African Post Office used to be the main place to collect the SRD R350 grant.
The Post Office stopped paying SRD grants at its branches. SRD beneficiaries are now redirected to supermarket chains like Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite, Checkers and Usave for cash collection. You can no longer select a Post Office branch as your SRD collection point as you did in 2021 and 2022. The official payment options now are:
Payment into a bank account –
If you already have a bank account and trust your bank, payment into your own account is usually the best.
Payment to a Postbank/SASSA card –
If you receive other SASSA grants on a Postbank card, using the same card for SRD can make life simpler. One card, one PIN, one routine.
Cash or retailer collection at approved stores –
If you do not have a bank account but live near a big supermarket, retailer cash collection can work well. You can combine collecting your grant with shopping for food.
What if your payment used to go to the Post Office?
Some people still have “Post Office” or old-style cash collection linked to their profile from years ago. If you are one of them, you should update your payment method.
How to choose the cash collection option?
If your goal is “walk somewhere and collect cash each month,” you need to set your SRD payment method to retailer cash collection. You do this online.
- Go to the official SRD website: srd.sassa.gov.za.
- Look for the section that says “Change Banking Details” or “Change Payment Method.”
- Type in your ID number and submit.
- You will get an SMS with a secure link on the phone number that you used for your SRD application.
- Open that link. On the form, choose “Cash Payment” or “Retailer collection” as your payment method.
- Confirm and submit the form.
Frequently Asked Questions SASSA SRD R350 Grant
How much must I earn to qualify?
Your monthly income must be below approximately R370. SASSA calculates income from your bank account deposits.
Why is my application approved but I have not received payment?
“Approved” means you meet requirements, not that payment has been processed. Payment takes several days after approval. Check your status for “Payment Pending” or “Paid.”
How long does it take a SASSA appeal to approve?
SASSA appeals typically take 60-90 days to process. Some faster appeals may be completed in 6-8 weeks. Complex appeals may take 3-4 months.
What happens if someone used my ID fraudulently?
Report it to SASSA at 0800 60 10 11 and file a police report. SASSA will investigate and remove the fraudulent application.
How do I change my payment method?
Visit the SASSA website or a SASSA office with your ID to update your payment method.
Can I get my payment at any post office?
No, you can only collect from a post office you registered with SASSA. To change your collection point, update your details with SASSA.
How long does an appeal take?
SASSA appeals typically take 60-90 days. You cannot receive payment while your appeal is pending.
Why is my refund still pending?
“Payment Pending” status means your application is approved and your payment is being processed. This usually lasts 3-5 working days. Check your status regularly. If it takes longer than 2 weeks, contact SASSA.
Does “pending” mean the refund is approved?
Not necessarily! “Application Pending” means your application is being reviewed, not that you are approved. “Payment Pending” means your application is approved and payment is being processed. Check your full status message for clarity.
What if I lost my phone number?
Contact SASSA at toll-free number 0800 60 10 11 or visit a SASSA office. Don’t forget to bring your ID. They will verify your identity and update your number.
Is the R350 grant ending?
The R370 grant is not ending in 2025. It is extended until March 2027. The government has not announced what happens after that date.
How do I claim uncollected money?
Contact SASSA immediately and explain you missed collection. Provide your ID and the month you missed. Be quick as the funds are transferred to the second beneficiary after the grace period.
What is the maximum income to qualify?
Your monthly income must be below approximately R370. Regular income above this disqualifies you.
Does SASSA check My income?
Yes, SASSA checks your income as part of the verification process. They access your bank account statement to verify your monthly income. SASSA also checks income regularly while you receive the grant to ensure you continue to qualify.
How much is the unemployment grant?
The SASSA unemployment grant, officially called the Social Relief of Distress grant, is R370 per month as of 2025. Previously it was R350.
What is the best way to win an appeal?
Know exactly why you were declined and address that specific issue. Gather strong supporting evidence like bank statements, letters, and ID copies. Write clearly explaining why you believe the decision was wrong. Be completely honest in your appeal.
How many types of appeal are there?
For SASSA, there is one main appeal type: the SRD grant appeal process. Different grants (Old Age, Disability, Child Support) may have slightly different appeal procedures, but the basic process is similar.
How do you restart your SASSA application?
Request cancellation of your current application from SASSA. Wait a few days for it to process. Reapply using the same ID number but with corrected information and updated details. Make it clear you are submitting a new application, not an appeal.
What is the SASSA WhatsApp number for appeal?
SASSA provides WhatsApp support on the number 082 054 0016. However, always check the official SASSA website for the current WhatsApp number, as it may be different. WhatsApp is for questions about appeals, not for submitting appeals officially.
How do I complain about the SASSA R350?
Call SASSA at 0800 60 10 11, visit a SASSA office to file a formal complaint, or submit your complaint online through SRD.sassa.gov.za. Provide your ID, reference number, and clear details of your problem. Keep your complaint reference number for follow-up.
Why is my R350 approved but no Payday?
Your application may show “Approved” but payment processing takes time. “Approved” means you meet requirements, not that payment has been processed. Check your status again after 2-3 days to see if a payment date appears. If your status stays approved without a payment date for more than a week, contact SASSA for clarification.
Getting Help – SASSA SRD R350 Grant – Legal Social Relief Aid South Africa
For questions or to check your status, contact SASSA at 0800 60 10 11. Visit the official website at srd.sassa.gov.za. Visit your local SASSA office with your ID for in-person help.
Keep your SASSA reference number safe. Use it when you contact SASSA or check your status. Update your contact details whenever they change to avoid missing payments.
The SASSA R350 grant provides essential support for millions of unemployed South Africans. Understanding how the system works helps you apply successfully, check your status, and access your funds on time.