How to Cancel Your SASSA SRD Grant
You found work, your household income improved, or you simply do not need the R370 anymore. The right move is to close your SRD file cleanly, not to just ignore it. If SASSA pays you a month where your income exceeded the R628 means test, that money becomes recoverable under Section 21 of the Social Assistance Act, and continued silence can lead to garnishee orders on your salary or, in extreme cases, criminal charges. This guide walks through every legitimate way to cancel, and what to do if the payments have already started arriving unwanted.
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When You Must Cancel
You are legally obliged under Section 20 of the Social Assistance Act to notify SASSA when your circumstances change. In practice this means cancelling (or at least declining new payments) in any of these situations:
You started earning above R628 per month
Any regular income (formal salary, informal trade, freelance work) that consistently exceeds R628 disqualifies you from the SRD. Continuing to receive payments is unlawful.
You now receive another SASSA grant
Older Person's, Disability, Foster, Care Dependency, Child Support (in your own name as beneficiary), or Grant-in-Aid. SRD is exclusive; you may not draw both.
You started NSFAS funding
From 2025, NSFAS beneficiaries are treated as having sufficient income under the SRD regulations and must cancel.
You emigrated or lost SA residency
SRD is only for SA citizens, permanent residents, and holders of specific asylum permits currently resident in South Africa.
You started UIF benefits
UIF and SRD cannot overlap. Cancel the SRD in the same month UIF pays out.
Personal reason
You have decided you no longer need the R370. Cancellation is your right at any time; no reason is required.
Three Ways to Cancel
| Channel | Speed | Documents needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRD portal (srd.sassa.gov.za) | Same day | ID and cellphone | Anyone with internet access |
| WhatsApp bot (082 046 8553) | Same day | ID and cellphone | Data-limited users |
| SASSA local office | Same day, in-person | Green ID book, proof of new income if applicable | Applicants with disputed overpayments |
Method 1: SRD Portal
- Open srd.sassa.gov.za in any browser.
- Log in with your ID and the cellphone number on your file; confirm the OTP.
- From the main menu select "Update Existing Application".
- Choose "Cancel Application" from the list of update options.
- Select the reason from the dropdown (e.g. "Now employed", "Now receiving other grant", "Other").
- Read the confirmation notice about future payments stopping and any obligation to repay unlawful payments.
- Tick the declaration and submit.
- Note the cancellation reference number and screenshot the confirmation page.
Method 2: WhatsApp Bot
- Save 082 046 8553 as a contact called "SASSA".
- Open WhatsApp, send the word "SASSA" to the number.
- Follow the menu: reply with the number for "SRD Grant", then the number for "Update Application", then the number for "Cancel".
- Confirm your ID and cellphone when prompted.
- Choose the cancellation reason from the numbered list.
- Type "YES" to confirm.
- Save the confirmation message; it is your only proof if a dispute arises later.
Method 3: SASSA Local Office
Visit any SASSA local office. Bring your original green ID book or smart ID card. If you are cancelling because of new income, bring one recent payslip or proof of the new grant. A consultant fills in the SRD Withdrawal form on your behalf; you sign and receive a stamped copy immediately.
What Happens After You Cancel
| Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| Immediately | Portal status flips to "Cancelled". Your file is marked closed for the current SRD cycle. |
| Within 24 hours | SMS confirmation to the cellphone on file. |
| Next payment run | You are excluded from any further payment queues. |
| Ongoing | You remain in SASSA's system for audit purposes for 5 years. |
| Anytime later | You may reapply as a new applicant if your circumstances change back. |
If You Were Already Paid a Month You Should Not Have Been
SASSA classifies these as "undue payments" and expects them back. Ignoring the debt leads to progressive escalation.
Correct order of steps
- Do not spend the money. Ring-fence it in a savings account until SASSA confirms whether you owe it.
- Visit a SASSA local office and declare the overpayment. Bring the ID, the bank statement showing the credit, and any proof of the income change (payslip, appointment letter).
- SASSA will either write off the payment (rare but possible if the timing was within their own processing delay) or issue a Payment Recovery Notice for the amount owing.
- The notice states the amount, the reason, and offers three repayment options: full refund, monthly instalments (typically over 6 to 24 months), or lump sum with a small hardship discount.
- Choose an option, sign the agreement, and settle. Keep every receipt.
Reapplying Later If Your Situation Changes
Cancelling is not a permanent ban. If you lose the job or your circumstances worsen, you may reapply as a new applicant at any time. There is no waiting period.
- Reapply via the same portal, WhatsApp bot, USSD *134*7737#, or in-branch.
- Your previous cancellation record does not count against a fresh application.
- The R628 means test starts fresh from the month of the new application.
- Payments resume from the first month you pass the means test after reapplying.
Full walkthrough at our how to apply guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just stop checking and let the file lapse instead of cancelling?
Technically yes, and after three months of no reconfirmation the file auto-lapses. But this only closes the file; it does not resolve any payments made in the meantime. If you have new income above R628 and payments continue to land, you still owe SASSA the money and lapsing does not erase that debt. Formal cancellation is safer.
What happens if I just spend the money and hope SASSA never notices?
SASSA cross-references SARS PAYE data quarterly. Once your new employer submits PAYE, SASSA sees the income and flags any overlapping SRD payments as undue. Recovery starts automatically. Better to cancel proactively.
Do I have to give a reason to cancel?
You must select a reason from the dropdown, but "Other" is always available. SASSA does not require documentary proof for a voluntary cancellation.
Can I cancel just for one month if I know I will earn over R628 that month?
No, and you do not need to. The monthly means test handles this automatically: SASSA will see the higher bank inflow and decline that specific month. See monthly reconfirmation. Only fully cancel when the change is likely to persist.
Will cancelling affect my chances of getting another SASSA grant later?
No. SRD cancellation has no bearing on eligibility for Older Person's, Disability, Child Support, or any other permanent SASSA grant. Each grant is assessed on its own criteria.
How do I refund a payment I already received?
Visit a SASSA local office. They issue a payment reference and banking details for the refund. Never transfer money to any account provided by SMS, WhatsApp, or a caller claiming to be SASSA; refunds are only ever made through official banking details issued at the branch.