How To Apply For R350 Grants?

How To Apply R350 Grants?

How To Apply For R350 Grants?

How To Apply For R350 Grants?

How to Apply for the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant:

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) provides temporary relief to eligible individuals through the R350 Grant. This grant aims to assist unemployed and vulnerable citizens during challenging times. Since SASSA is a social intervention policy, applications are always open, and there is no closing date.

If you are unemployed and in need of financial support in South Africa, applying for the SASSA R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant can provide much-needed assistance. The R350 grant is aimed at South African citizens, permanent residents, asylum seekers, and special permit holders who meet the qualifying criteria. It is a monthly payment offered by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to help individuals without any source of income.

Knowing how to apply for the R350 grant correctly is important to avoid delays or rejection. The application is done online through the official SASSA SRD website at https://srd.sassa.gov.za. The process is simple and can be completed using a smartphone or computer. You will need to select your identity type, fill in your details, provide your banking information or preferred payment method, and agree to the terms and conditions.

An important step is verifying your mobile number via an SMS OTP (One-Time Pin), which confirms your identity. Once all your information is submitted, SASSA will process your application within two to three months. If your application is approved, you’ll start receiving the R350 payment on scheduled dates. Whether you are applying for the first time or updating your information, this guide will help you understand how to apply for R350 grants successfully.

Requirements Needed To Apply For R350 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:
You must be a South African Citizen
You must be a Refugee in South Africa
You must be an Asylum Seeker in South Africa with a valid Section 22 permit or visa
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)

Read Also: How Do You Apply SRD Sassa 350?

How To Apply For R350 Grants

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, 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 SMS.”
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 chat box (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

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).

How Long Does It Take For Sassa To Respond To You

SASSA may take between 2 weeks and 3 months to process your application. Once a decision is made, you will receive an SMS on your phone.
If approved, you will begin receiving your monthly R350 grant on the scheduled SASSA payment dates.

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

Read Also: Check R350 Grant Status 2025-2026

SASSA SRD GRANT STATUS MEANING

Here is an explanation of what your SRD grant application status means:

Application complete:

This means you have completed the reapplication process and your SRD grant will be verified each month.
Check your verification and payment status each month on the SRD website.

Bank details pending:

This means the application or reapplication was received, but no banking details or preferences were received.
Applicants should submit their banking details via the SRD website (see above, step 4 of the application process).

Reapplication pending:

This means a reapplication has not been received.
Applicants should submit their application (see above for how to apply).

Period Pending:

This means reapplication was successfully received, and verification of the application for the period is pending.
Applicants should check their application status later in the month (see above, how to check your application status).

Period Approved:

This means the application was approved for the period.
Applicants should check the pay schedule for details on when to expect their money.

Period Declined:

This means the application was declined for the period, as well as the reason why it was declined.
Applicants should submit a request for reconsideration (see below for how to apply for reconsideration).

Cancelled:

This means the grant has been cancelled. Applicants may reinstate their grant on the SRD website (find out how to reinstate your SRD grant application here).

Applying for the R350 Grant can provide much-needed assistance during difficult times. By following the outlined steps in this guide, you can ensure a smooth and successful application process. Remember to provide accurate information and keep track of your application status for updates. For more information, please visit SASSA Grant’s official website.

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