You apply for the SRD R370 grant online at srd.sassa.gov.za. It’s free and takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You need your ID or permit number and a cellphone number in your own name. You confirm the number with a one-time PIN, accept SASSA’s consent form, answer questions about your income, choose how to be paid and submit.
| Quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | srd.sassa.gov.za (type it in yourself) |
| Cost | Free. Nobody can charge you to apply. |
| Amount | R370 a month for each month you qualify |
| Who | People aged 18 to 59 with little or no income |
| Income limit | Below R624 a month (reported means test figure) |
| Time needed | About 10 to 15 minutes |
On this page: Is it open? · Who can apply · What you need · Step by step · Permit holders · Payment · After you apply · Problems · FAQ
Are SRD applications still open in 2026?
Yes. The SASSA online application for the SRD grant is still open, and the grant is still R370 a month. In the October 2026 mini-budget, Treasury documents showed the grant being extended for another year beyond March 2027 while government works on a replacement (EWN, 22 October 2026). About 13 million people get it at the moment.
The Department of Social Development is working on a basic income grant to replace the SRD grant in future, linked to jobs and training. No new grant is open for applications yet. If someone offers to “pre-register” you for a new grant for a fee, it’s a scam.
Who can apply for the SRD grant?
SASSA checks every applicant against the rules below, and then checks you again every month. You can qualify in one month and not in the next.
- You’re between 18 and 59 years old.
- You’re a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee, an asylum seeker with a valid Section 22 permit, or the holder of an Angolan, Lesotho or Zimbabwean special permit.
- You live in South Africa.
- Your income for the month is below the means test limit, reported as R624.
- You don’t receive another social grant for yourself, UIF payments or NSFAS funding.
- You don’t live in a government-funded institution, such as a prison or state care home.
- You haven’t turned down a job or study offer without a good reason.
Sources: age and residency rules from the SRD regulations as reported by The Mercury, January 2026; income limit from Sowetan, August 2026. Rules can change, so check the official site before you apply.
Can I apply if…?
| Your situation | Can you apply? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I get a child support grant for my children | Usually yes | The child support grant is paid for the child. It isn’t counted as another grant for you. |
| I get an old age or disability grant | No | You already receive a grant in your own name. |
| I’m a student with NSFAS funding | No | NSFAS money disqualifies you while you receive it. |
| I’m getting UIF payments | Not while UIF is paying | UIF is income support, so SASSA declines those months. |
| I do piece jobs | Yes, if you earn under R624 that month | SASSA looks at money paid into your bank account. |
| I’m an asylum seeker | Yes, with a valid Section 22 permit | Use the section of the site for asylum seekers and permit holders. |
| I turned 60 | No | Apply for the Older Persons Grant instead. |
| I share a cellphone with my partner | Each person needs their own number | Shared numbers are a known reason payments are stopped. Move to your own number with our SRD number change guide. |
The child support grant and shared-number points come from LegalFundi and a 2025 parliamentary reply to Parliament.
What counts as income?
SASSA doesn’t only look at a salary. It checks money going into bank accounts linked to your ID number, and information from SARS, UIF and NSFAS. Regular money from a partner or family, a large once-off deposit or payments for piece jobs can all count. If a deposit wasn’t really income, for example money you were keeping for someone else, you can ask SASSA to reconsider that month.
What you need before you start
Have these ready before you start your SASSA online application, so you don’t get stuck halfway:
- Your ID number (13 digits) from your green ID book or smart ID card. Asylum seekers and permit holders need their permit or file number.
- A cellphone number registered (RICA’d) in your own name. SASSA sends your PIN and updates to this number, and it becomes linked to your application.
- Your home address.
- A bank account in your own name, if you want to be paid into a bank. This is optional.
- A phone with a front camera, in case SASSA sends you a link for a face check.
- 10 to 15 minutes and a working signal or Wi-Fi.
You don’t upload any documents. SASSA checks your details electronically with Home Affairs, banks and other government records.
How to do your SASSA online application, step by step
- Open the official website. Type srd.sassa.gov.za into your browser yourself rather than tapping a link from WhatsApp or Facebook. Choose the option for South African ID holders, or the one for asylum seekers and special permit holders.
- Confirm your cellphone number. Enter your number and wait for the one-time PIN (OTP) that SASSA sends by SMS. Type it in. Never share this PIN with anyone.
- Read and accept the declaration and consent. By accepting, you allow SASSA to check your details with Home Affairs, SARS, UIF, NSFAS, banks and other records. The SASSA online application can’t go ahead without this.
- Fill in your personal details. Enter your ID number and your names exactly as they appear on your ID, plus your home address. A spelling difference can cause an identity verification failure later.
- Answer the income questions honestly. You’ll be asked about work, income, UIF, NSFAS and other grants. SASSA checks your answers against official records, so a wrong answer only leads to a decline.
- Choose how you want to be paid. Pick payment into your own bank account, or cash collection if you don’t have an account.
- Submit and keep the SMS. Save any reference number or message you receive. You’ll use the same ID number and cellphone number to check your status.
- Complete the face check if asked. SASSA started rolling out face and fingerprint checks for new applications from September 2025. If you get an SMS link, open it soon, in good light, with your ID in hand.
The biometric rollout was reported by EWN, August 2025. The screens on the official site can change, so the wording may not match exactly.
Applying as an asylum seeker or special permit holder
The SRD website has a separate section for asylum seekers and special permit holders. You need a valid Section 22 asylum seeker permit, or an Angolan, Lesotho or Zimbabwean special permit (The Mercury, January 2026). Your permit must be current on the Department of Home Affairs system, because SASSA checks it there. If your permit has expired, renew it with Home Affairs first, otherwise the SASSA online application will fail verification.
Choosing how you’ll be paid
| Payment option | What you need | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Your own bank account | An account in your own name | Usually the most reliable. SASSA won’t pay into someone else’s account. |
| Cash collection | Your cellphone and ID | You get an SMS when the money is ready and collect it at a participating store. |
Shops have paid out SRD money since the Post Office stopped in 2022 (News24). You can switch to a bank account later on the official site (see updating SRD banking details). See how to change your banking details.
What happens after you apply?
| Stage | What happens | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Identity check | SASSA checks your ID details with Home Affairs. | Pending |
| 2. Monthly means test | SASSA checks your income and other records for each month. | Approved or declined, month by month |
| 3. Payment scheduled | For approved months, a payment is set up. | A pay date appears next to the month |
| 4. Money paid | Money goes to your account or is ready to collect. | Paid, then the money in your account |
New applications can take a while, because SASSA checks every application. SASSA has said applicants should wait three months before following up on an application that is still pending (GroundUp, May 2025). After that, call SASSA on 0800 60 10 11.
You don’t have to apply again every month. SASSA re-tests you each month automatically. It may sometimes ask you to reconfirm your application, so keep an eye on your SMS messages.
To check where your application stands, use the status page on the same website with your ID number and the cellphone number you applied with. Our SASSA status check guide explains every way to check, and what each status means.
Common application problems and how to fix them
It says my application is already active, but I never applied
This can mean someone has used your ID number to apply. Contact SASSA straight away on 0800 60 10 11, explain that your application shows as active and give your ID number. SASSA may ask you to do a face scan to prove who you are. The Black Sash can also help (GroundUp, November 2025).
The OTP never arrives
Check that the number is correct and registered in your own name, and that you have a signal. Wait a few minutes before asking for a new PIN, because only the latest PIN works. If it still doesn’t arrive, try again later in the day when the site is less busy.
Identity verification failed
Your names, surname or ID number didn’t match Home Affairs records. Check them against your ID document. If Home Affairs has your details wrong, fix them there first. If your details were correct, you can ask SASSA to reconsider and then appeal.
My application has been pending for weeks
Pending means SASSA hasn’t finished checking you. It can take a long time for new applications. Keep checking your status, and contact SASSA if it’s still pending after three months (GroundUp, May 2025).
I was declined
Your status shows a reason for each declined month. If you think it’s wrong, you can ask for a reconsideration on the official site and then appeal to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals. Appeals are usually lodged within 90 days. Read how to lodge an SRD appeal.
I share a phone with someone else
Each applicant needs their own cellphone number. SASSA has told Parliament that shared cellphone numbers are one of the reasons payments aren’t made (a 2025 parliamentary reply). Change to your own number on the official site.
The website won’t load
The site gets very busy around pay dates. Try early in the morning or late at night, clear your browser or try another browser. Only use srd.sassa.gov.za. Never enter your details on a site with a different address.
I made a mistake on my application
You can update your cellphone number and banking details on the official site. For other mistakes, such as your name or address, contact SASSA on 0800 60 10 11.
Mistakes that get applications declined
Most declined SASSA online applications come down to a handful of avoidable mistakes:
- Getting money from family or a partner into your account and not mentioning it.
- Using a cellphone number or bank account that belongs to someone else.
- Typing your name differently from how it appears on your ID.
- Applying while you receive UIF or NSFAS money.
- Ignoring the SMS link for the face check.
Stay safe when you apply
- The SASSA online application is free. Anyone asking for a fee is a scammer.
- SASSA won’t ask for your bank PIN, card PIN or OTP on WhatsApp or by phone.
- Don’t give your ID number and phone to “agents” in Facebook groups who offer to apply for you.
- Only use srd.sassa.gov.za. Sites with other addresses that ask for your ID are not SASSA. See our list of official SASSA websites.
Can I apply at a SASSA office?
The SRD application is done online by the applicant, and approvals run through an automated system (a 2025 parliamentary reply). SASSA offices can help when something goes wrong, for example if your face check fails or there’s a problem with your identity. Take your ID with you.
SRD R350 and R370: is it the same application?
Yes. The grant started at R350 in May 2020 and went up to R370 on 1 April 2024 (The Citizen, March 2024). The increase applied to people who already had an application, so there was no new R370 form. Searches for “R350 application” lead to the same SASSA online application on the same website.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SASSA online application free?
Yes. Applying on srd.sassa.gov.za costs nothing. If anyone asks you to pay, it’s a scam.
Can I apply without a bank account?
Yes. You can choose cash collection and receive an SMS when your money is ready to collect. You can add a bank account in your own name later.
Can I apply for someone else?
You can help a family member, but the application must use their own ID, their own cellphone number and their consent. They may also need to do the face check themselves.
Do I need to reapply every month?
No. SASSA checks you again every month on its own. It may sometimes ask you to reconfirm your application, so watch for SMS messages from SASSA.
How long does approval take?
It varies. After a SASSA online application, some people see a result within weeks, while others wait longer. SASSA has said to wait three months before following up on an application that is still pending.
Can I apply if I get a child support grant?
Usually yes. The child support grant is paid for your child, so it doesn’t count as another grant in your name. SASSA still checks your own income.
What is the official SRD application link?
The official website is srd.sassa.gov.za. Type it in yourself. Any other address that asks for your ID number is not SASSA.
Can I use a phone number that isn’t in my name?
You shouldn’t. The number should be registered in your own name, and shared numbers can stop payments.
Can foreigners apply for the SRD grant?
Refugees, asylum seekers with a valid Section 22 permit, and holders of Angolan, Lesotho or Zimbabwean special permits can apply. Other foreign nationals can’t.
What happens when I turn 60?
The SRD grant stops at 60. You can then apply for the Older Persons Grant.
About this guide
Written and checked by N Chris, for SASSA Status Check Help. We check facts against SASSA announcements, government sources and South African news reports, and we update this page when the rules change. We are not SASSA and never ask for your ID number, PIN or bank details. Read how we verify information.