How Do I Apply For The SRD Grant 2026?

How Do I Apply For The SRD Grant 2026?

How to Apply for the SRD Grant 2026 in Simple Steps

South African citizens struggling to make ends meet due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic impact may be eligible for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, a temporary assistance program designed to support individuals in need. As the approach to 2026, many are wondering how to apply for this vital grant. The SRD grant provides a monthly stipend to help recipients cover basic living expenses, and applying is a relatively straightforward process.

To be eligible, applicants must meet specific requirements, including being a South African citizen, resident, or refugee, and having a monthly income below a certain threshold. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is responsible for administering the grant, and applications can be submitted online or through other designated channels.
If you’re wondering how to apply for the SRD grant in 2026, you have come to the right place.

This article will guide you through the application process, outlining the necessary documents, eligibility criteria, and step-by-step instructions to increase your chances of a successful application. It will also cover important details, such as the application deadline, payment dates, and how to check your application status.

When To Apply For Sassa Grants For The 2026-2027

Sassa grants are made as a support for social intervention, which has no deadline for application. There are no deadlines for applying for Sassa grants for 2026.

Read Also: How Do You Apply SRD Sassa 350?

What Are The Types Of Sassa Grants

SASSA offers various types of social grants, each with specific eligibility criteria. Below are the main types:

Older Person’s Grant (Old Age Pension)
Disability Grant
Child Support Grant
Foster Child Grant
Care Dependency Grant
War Veterans’ Grant
Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant / R350 Grant

Requirements Needed To Apply For Sassa SRDE Grants 2026-2027

To apply for the SASSA SRD Grant, you must meet the criteria to apply (note that these criteria may change). The criteria are as follows:

You must reside in South Africa
You must meet any 1 of these criteria:
1. You must be a South African Citizen
2. You must be a Refugee in South Africa
3. You must be an Asylum Seeker in South Africa with a valid Section 22 permit or visa
4. You must be a Special Permit Holder in South Africa (under the Special Angolan Dispensation, the Lesotho Exemption Permit Dispensation, or the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Dispensation)
You must be between 18 and 60 years old
You must meet the means test, with an income of R624 or less per month
You must be unemployed and NOT be receiving financial support from any other source
You must have insufficient financial means to support yourself
You must NOT be receiving any other social grants for yourself
You must NOT be contributing towards or eligible for UIF payment
You must NOT unreasonably refuse to accept employment or educational opportunities
You must NOT be receiving a stipend from NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme)

How Much Sassa Grants Do You Receive Monthly For 2026-2027

Below are the current SASSA grant amounts for different types of grants:

Older Persons Grant:

For individuals between 60-74 years old: R2,315

For individuals 75 years and older:

R2,335 (however, more recent information suggests it might be R2,330 for those 75 and older)

Disability Grant: R2,310
Care Dependency Grant: R2,310

War Veterans Grant:

For veterans under 75 years: R2,310
For veterans 75 years and older: R2,330

Foster Child Grant: R1,250

Child Support Grant:

Base amount: R560

Top-up amount (for eligible recipients): R280, making the total R840

Grant-in-Aid: R560
SRD (Social Relief) Grant: R370

How Do I Apply For The SRD Grant 2026?

With your mobile phone, computer, or laptop connected to the internet, applicants can follow these 6 simple steps to apply for the SRD Grant:

STEP 1: CHOOSE AN APPLICATION METHOD:

Applications for the SRD Grant can be submitted via WhatsApp, the SRD Website, or the SASSA Chatbot. You should only apply via one method – submitting more than one application will not speed up the process; in fact, it may slow down your application. Please read how to apply each of these methods:

WhatsApp:

Send a message via WhatsApp to 082 046 8553
Provide your details
You will receive a Reference number, an OTP, and a link to click
Click on the provided link, fill in your OTP, and verify your account
Fill in your surname and ID number
Confirm the personal details that you provided via the WhatsApp chat

SRD Website:

In your internet browser, visit the SRD Website(if you are a Refugee, Asylum Seeker, or Special Permit Holder, find out how to apply here)
Fill in your mobile number and ID number, and click “send SM.S”
You will receive a 6-digit OTP via SMS
Insert the OTP number on the SRD website and click “verify pin”.

SASSA Chatbot:

In your internet browser, visit the SASSA Website
Click on the SRD R350 Grant assistance chatbox (the orange box on the side of the screen)
Fill in your ID number and mobile number
On the chat, choose the option to apply for the SRD R350 grant
Click on the SRD website link provided by the SASSA Chatbot
Follow the SRD website steps

STEP 2: AGREE TO THE T&C:

Read and agree to the clauses in the Declaration and the Consent
Read and agree to the clauses on the You and Your Special COVID-19 SRD Grant document

STEP 3: PROVIDE YOUR DETAILS:

Provide your personal information, including:

ID Number
Full Name and Surname (as printed on your ID Document/ ID Card)
Gender
Physical Address
Contact Information (mobile number, email address)
SASSA may request further information

STEP 4: CHOOSE YOUR PAYMENT OPTION / PROVIDE YOUR BANKING DETAILS:

New applicants with a personal bank account must provide the following information for payment:

Your Bank Name
Your Account Number
Your Branch Name
Your Account Type
Agree to the Terms and Conditions
Submit your Banking Details

New applicants without a personal bank account must provide the following information for payment:

Choose Payment option – Cash Send
Agree to Terms and Conditions
Submit Banking Details

Existing applicants with a personal bank account, confirm the following information for payment:

Confirm Existing Personal Banking Details
Agree to Terms and Conditions
Click Submit

Existing applicants with the cash option, who would like to change to the bank payment option, should provide the following information for payment:

Your Bank Name
Your Account Number
Your Branch Name
Your Account Type
Agree to the Terms and Conditions
Submit your Banking Details

Read Also: Check R350 Grant Status 2025-2026

STEP 5: RECEIVE AN SMS:

Applicants will receive an SMS notifying them of their banking details.
After receiving this SMS, the SRD R350 Grant application is now active.

STEP 6: SASSA VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION:

SASSA verifies your personal information (ID Number, Name, and Surname) against the Department of Home Affairs database.

SASSA matches your ID Number against approved databases such as UIF, SARS, NSFAS, etc.
Fraud Risk Scoring is conducted with Fraud prevention partners, whereby your ID number and mobile number are checked against the approved databases.
Your application is then approved or declined with the reason (see below a list of reasons for being declined).

That’s the end of the application process!

How To Check Your R350 Grants Application Status?

If you have submitted your application for the SRD Grant and would like to find out the status, you can check your application status in either of these ways:

On the SRD grants website
Send a WhatsApp message to 082 046 8553
Call the Toll Free Call Centre on 0800 60 10 11

Applying for the SRD Grant can provide temporary relief during these challenging times. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this post, you can ensure a smooth and successful application process. Remember to check your eligibility, gather the necessary documents, and keep track of your application status. For more information, please visit the SASSA Grants official website.

RELATED LINKS