South African Social Security Agency
Social Relief of Distress (SRD)
On this page
- At a glance
- Who qualifies
- Documents you bring
- How to apply
- Status codes explained
- September 2026 payment dates
- R624 means-test breakdown
- Common decline reasons
- Reconsideration & appeals
- Change banking details
- Update cellphone number
- Payment methods compared
- Livelihoods Grant switch
- SRD history & policy
- Scam watch
- Frequently asked questions
- Contact SASSA
- Latest SRD news
At a glance
Who qualifies
- South African citizen, permanent resident, or recognised refugee
- Aged 18 to 59
- Unemployed and not receiving another SASSA grant, UIF, or NSFAS funding
- Income under R624 per month for the review period
- Living in South Africa
- Registered on the SRD portal with a valid ID and cellphone number
Who does not qualify
- Under 18 or 60 and older
- Receiving another SASSA grant, UIF payout, or NSFAS allowance
- Any income above R624 in the review month (including gifts, loans, family transfers)
- Not registered on Home Affairs as a citizen or permanent resident
- In a state institution
Documents you bring
- Valid 13-digit South African ID number
- Active cellphone number registered in your name
- Personal bank account in your name (or Postbank / mobile money for unbanked)
- Consent to SASSA verifying you against Home Affairs, SARS, UIF, and bank records
No paper documents are submitted. The SRD is 100% online and SASSA verifies your details directly against the government databases. Never give your ID or banking details to third parties offering to 'apply for you'.
How to apply
- Open the SRD portal at srd.sassa.gov.za or use the SASSA WhatsApp line 082 046 8553.
- Enter your 13-digit ID and cellphone number. You will receive an OTP by SMS.
- Consent to SASSA verifying you against Home Affairs, SARS, UIF, and NSFAS databases.
- Enter your personal banking details (bank name, account number, branch code).
- Submit. Your status shows Pending while SASSA runs the checks.
- Approved months trigger a payment. Declined months can be appealed within 30 days from the SMS date.
- Every month you must recheck your status. Approval is per month, not permanent.
The SRD is reviewed month-by-month. An approval this month does not carry over. If your bank account shows income above R624 in any month, that month is declined even if previous months were approved.
The R624 threshold catches a lot of family transfers
SASSA reads bank inflows, not just wages. Rent paid on your behalf, groceries sent via EFT, a cash-send from a working sibling, or a family stokvel payout can all push you over R624 for that month and trigger a decline, even if your "income" is zero. Route family support through cash or grocery vouchers where possible during months you want approval.
Status codes explained
Every SRD application resolves into one of nine status codes. Each one requires a different response. This is what each code means and the exact next step.
| Status | What it means | Action needed |
|---|---|---|
| Approved | You qualify. Payment lands in the current monthly window. | Confirm banking details, wait for pay day. |
| Pending | SASSA is still processing. No decision yet. | Check back in 5-10 working days. Do not reapply. |
| Declined | An eligibility rule was triggered. A reason code accompanies the SMS. | Lodge a reconsideration within 30 days. |
| Referred | Flagged for extra checks (biometric or banking). | Wait for an SMS. Only act if SASSA asks. |
| Reapplied | A new application was submitted for the same month. | Do not use if you meant to appeal. Use reconsideration instead. |
| Bank Pending | Approved, but bank verification failed. | Update banking details on the SRD portal. |
| Identity Failed | Home Affairs could not confirm your ID. | Book Home Affairs, update record, then reapply. |
| Alt Income | Bank deposit over R624 detected in the tested month. | Attach bank statement and affidavit to reconsideration. |
| UIF Registered | Your ID is on the UIF employer database. | Get UI-19 from ex-employer, attach to reconsideration. |
September 2026 payment dates
SASSA published the September 2026 SRD payment window on 11 September, one week after the portal was restored following the late-August outage. The pay run is running three days shorter than August because of the backlog carried into early September.
| Channel | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Postbank ATM | 15-30 Sep | Black Card holders first. Gold Card ATM block starts 1 October. |
| Retail cash-out (Shoprite, Checkers, Pick n Pay, Boxer) | 16-30 Sep | Available from the morning after the Postbank rush clears. |
| Bank account (all commercial banks) | 16-22 Sep | Standard Bank and Capitec clear first, ABSA and FNB by Wednesday. |
| uCollect cash-send fallback | 18-30 Sep | For recipients whose banking details were rejected in August. |
The SRD amount is still R370 in September
The August 2026 Pretoria High Court ruling opened the door to a potential increase to R450. Nothing has changed yet. September, October, November, and December 2026 all pay out at R370. Any change would only take effect from 1 April 2027.
R624 means-test breakdown
SASSA compares your total bank inflows for the tested month against the R624 threshold. If the total (excluding a small list of exceptions) is R624 or more, that month is declined. Even a single R700 deposit is enough.
What counts against the threshold
What does not count
The R624 rule is not "average monthly income"
Many people misread the rule as "average less than R624 per month across the year". It is not. It is a single-month test. One month with a R700 deposit is a decline for that month, even if the other eleven months are zero.
Common decline reasons and the fix
These are the eight decline reasons responsible for roughly 92 percent of SRD refusals in the 2026 cycle. The reason code shown in your SMS matches the "Code" column below.
| Code | Meaning | Reconsideration fix |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative Income Source | Bank deposit over R624 detected. | Bank statement plus affidavit stating source and one-off nature. |
| UIF Registered | ID appears on UIF payroll data. | UI-19 termination form from ex-employer showing end date. |
| Identity Verification Failed | Home Affairs cannot confirm ID. | Home Affairs appointment to correct record, then reapply. |
| NSFAS Registered | Ineligible if you receive NSFAS. | Cancellation letter from NSFAS or proof study has ended. |
| Deceased Marker | Home Affairs has your ID as deceased in error. | Life-proof at Home Affairs, get updated ID book. |
| Prisoner Marker | Correctional Services record on your ID. | Release letter from correctional facility. |
| Age Ineligible | DOB places you under 18 or 60+. | None; you no longer qualify for SRD but may qualify for Older Persons Grant. |
| Existing Grant | You already receive another SASSA grant. | None; SASSA rules prohibit double-grant recipients. |
Reconsideration and appeals
A decline is not final. Every applicant has 30 days from the SMS date to lodge a reconsideration. The clock starts on the SMS send date, not the day you log in and see the decline.
Step-by-step reconsideration
- Log in to srd.sassa.gov.za with the same ID and cellphone used for the original application.
- Open the declined month. The reason code and short explanation are shown at the top.
- Click "Lodge Reconsideration". A form appears with the reason auto-selected.
- Attach supporting evidence: bank statement, affidavit, UI-19, or Home Affairs receipt as applicable.
- Submit. You receive an SMS confirming receipt within 15 minutes with a reference number.
- SASSA responds in 11 to 30 days for straightforward cases, up to 90 days for complex ones.
What breaks a reconsideration
New evidence created after the decline (a fresh affidavit dated after the SMS, a job termination letter after the tested month) is inadmissible under current regulations. The 2026 Gauteng High Court ruling struck this down, but the state's Supreme Court of Appeal challenge means the rule still applies until that case is heard.
Reconsideration versus reapplication
If you were declined and want to challenge that decision, use reconsideration. If you "reapply", you forfeit your right to backdate the disputed month and lose whatever payment would have been due.
Change your banking details
Updated banking details take one full pay cycle to activate. A change made this week only affects the following month's payment. This is why "Bank Pending" applicants often miss the current month even after an update.
- Log in to srd.sassa.gov.za.
- Click "Update Banking Details" in the profile section.
- Enter bank name, branch code (usually auto-filled), and account number.
- Consent to the ID-to-account verification against the bank's database.
- Wait for the SMS confirming the change was accepted. Usually within 5 minutes.
- The next pay run uses the new account.
The account must be in your name
The Livelihoods Grant switch enforces this rule from 1 April 2027. From now on, SASSA declines any account whose name does not match the applicant's ID name. A spouse's or parent's account is no longer accepted.
Update your cellphone number
Your SASSA-registered cellphone is used for OTPs, status SMSes, and the Livelihoods Grant migration OTP. If you lose access to the old number, do not let the application go silent.
- Log in to srd.sassa.gov.za using the OLD cellphone number to receive the OTP.
- Click "Update Cellphone" in the profile section.
- Enter the new number. It must be RICA'd in your name.
- Confirm by receiving an OTP on both the old and new numbers. Both must be entered.
- If you can no longer access the OLD number, visit any SASSA local office with your ID for a manual update.
Payment methods compared
Choose based on how quickly you need the money and where the nearest access point is. Fees are as of September 2026.
| Method | Speed | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal bank account | Same-day EFT during pay window | R0 SASSA-side; bank fees apply | All South African commercial banks. |
| Postbank Black Card | Available at ATM from Day 1 | R0 for first 3 withdrawals; then R2.50 | Postbank ATMs; Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite, Checkers tills. |
| uCollect (cash-send) | Same-day, PIN sent by SMS | R0 SASSA-side | Shoprite Money Market counters; must produce ID. |
| Postbank Gold Card (legacy) | ATM until 1 Oct 2026, retail until 1 Nov 2026 | R0; card being retired | Swap to Black Card before deadline. |
Postbank Gold Card holders: swap now
From 07h00 on 1 October 2026, Postbank ATMs will decline Gold Card withdrawals. Retail cash-out keeps working until 1 November, but full deactivation lands 31 December. About 238,000 SASSA beneficiaries still hold the old card. See our countdown guide.
Livelihoods Grant switch: what changes 1 April 2027
The R370 SRD ends on 31 March 2027. The Livelihoods Grant begins the next morning. Existing SRD recipients migrate automatically if they complete four preparation steps by their deadlines.
R370 SRD ends 31 March 2027 · Livelihoods Grant begins 1 April 2027
| # | Step | Do by |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Update banking details to an account in your own name. | 31 Oct 2026 |
| 2 | Confirm cellphone number is RICA'd in your name. | 30 Nov 2026 |
| 3 | e-Life certification (only if 60 or older on 1 Sep 2026). | 15 Dec 2026 |
| 4 | Sign the Livelihoods Grant consent form when it opens. | 28 Feb 2027 |
Missing step 1 or 2 does not stop your SRD in September to March. It only stops the automatic migration to the Livelihoods Grant.
SRD history and policy background
The SRD is the youngest South African social grant. It was created in the first weeks of the Covid-19 lockdown as a temporary shock absorber and has been extended every year since.
Scam watch
The August 2026 portal outage and the Livelihoods Grant switch have both triggered fresh scam waves. If you see any of these, do not engage.
"Livelihoods Grant pre-registration"
WhatsApp forwards with shortened links asking for ID, cellphone, and an R50 admin fee. SASSA has not opened pre-registration. The real consent form only opens in January 2027, inside the official portal, and is free.
"Portal restoration fee"
SMS or WhatsApp claiming SASSA needs R25 to "reactivate your SRD profile" after the August outage. Profiles were never deactivated. There is no reactivation fee.
SRD "fixer" groups
Facebook or WhatsApp groups offering to "unlock" your status, appeal on your behalf, or push you to the front of the queue for a fee. SASSA does not use intermediaries. Anyone claiming to be one is stealing IDs and banking details.
Report SRD scams to [email protected] or the toll-free line on 0800 60 10 11.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the SRD grant in 2026?
R370 per month for every approved month, unchanged from 2025. The amount stays at R370 until the Livelihoods Grant switch on 1 April 2027.
What is the R624 income threshold really?
It is the maximum bank inflow allowed in the tested month. SASSA screens your account (or all accounts linked to your ID) for the calendar month being reviewed. If the total exceeds R624, that month is declined.
Do I need to reapply every month?
No. One application covers the 12-month approval cycle. SASSA re-verifies you against Home Affairs, SARS, UIF, and bank data every month. That is why one month can be approved and the next declined.
What if I miss the 30-day appeal window?
You can still submit but the reconsideration is treated as late and success rates drop. The route is to reapply for the following month and provide clean documentation from the start.
Can I check my SRD status without going online?
Yes. WhatsApp SRD 082 601 0111, USSD *134*7737#, GovChat 060 012 3456, and the toll-free helpline 0800 60 10 11 all read from the same SASSA database as the portal.
What happens to the SRD after 31 March 2027?
The R370 SRD ends at midnight on 31 March 2027. The Livelihoods Grant takes over from 1 April 2027. Recipients who completed the four migration steps move across automatically without a payment gap.
Can I get SRD if I have a bank account?
Yes. What matters is whether inflows in the tested month exceed R624. A bank account with a zero balance is fine. An account receiving family support of R700 is not.
Is the SRD only for South Africans?
South African citizens, permanent residents, and recognised refugees can apply. Recognised asylum seekers were added in July 2022 under a High Court order and remain eligible.
My friend and I both applied on the same day. Their status is Approved, mine is Pending. Why?
Bank verification order is unpredictable. Home Affairs checks are batched. Some cases clear in a day, others take up to two weeks. A Pending status past 15 working days is worth flagging via WhatsApp 082 601 0111.
Can SASSA see my Capitec account?
Yes. All major South African banks (Capitec, Standard Bank, ABSA, FNB, Nedbank, Postbank, Discovery, TymeBank, African Bank) share monthly transaction data with SASSA for SRD verification under a signed data-sharing agreement.
Contact SASSA
Use official channels only. Anyone claiming to be a "SASSA agent" outside these numbers is a scam.
Latest SRD news
Fresh coverage from the grantZA newsroom. All articles are researched against SASSA press releases and updated as policy changes.
- 30 AugSASSA SRD Portal Down Since Friday: 'It Works!' Page Signals Extended Maintenance
- 27 AugIs the R370 SRD Grant Coming to an End? The Truth Behind the Viral Facebook Posts
- 8 AugHigh Court Ruling Could Push SRD to R450 and Extend It to 18 Million People
- 27 MarSRD Grant Declined? Common Reasons and How to Appeal in 2026