SASSA SRD R350 (New R370 ) Grant Application Process

Q: <strong>How to apply for an R350 grant on WhatsApp?</strong>

Send a message to SASSA WhatsApp number “082 046 8553” . Verify the OTP you will receive on your mobile number and follow the prompt instructions to apply for R350 via WhatsApp.

SRD Application

The SRD R350 Grant (new R370 grant) from SASSA is a financial assistance program provided to the people of South Africa who cannot fulfill their and their family’s basic needs and need temporary assistance due to difficult economic circumstances. More than 8.5 million people in South Africa receive a Social Relief of Distress grant every month.

The Social Relief of Distress grant is given to those who have no other source of income and are aged between 18 to 59. You can apply for the SASSA R350 Grant if you are unemployed or medically unfit for up to 6 months and are eligible for it. There were different channels to apply for the R350 grant such as through the SRD SASSA website, WhatsApp, SMS, and others.

SASSA R350 Grant Eligibility Criteria

It is important to check the eligibility criteria before applying for the R350 grant. The eligibility criteria for the SRD application are given below:

To apply for the R350 grant you should be a South African citizen, asylum seeker, refugee, or special permit holder.
You must be living in South Africa.
Your age must be between 18 to 60 years.
The applicant should pass the means test of South Africa in which his/her monthly income should be less than R624.
The applicant must not be receiving any other Social Grant from the Government.
The applicant must be unemployed and have no other source of income.
You never applied for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The applicant must not be living in the state-funded station.

Documents Required for the SRD Application Process

Once you confirm your eligibility for the SRD R350 grant, you need to collect the all required documents to apply for the R350 grant. The documents required to apply for SASSA R350 are given below:

If you are a South African citizen then you need your 13-digit South African ID.
If you are an asylum seeker, refugee, or special permit holder then you need your passport or special permit number to apply for an SRD grant.
You need the phone number in your name to apply for the R350 grant.
Provide proof of your residential address will be any document like a utility bill confirming your address.
Your bank account statement which shows your last 3 months’ income and spending.
Proof of your employment status like payslips of discharge certificate if you were employed previously.

How to apply for the SASSA SRD R350 Grant

SASSA provides different channels to apply for the SRD R350 grant through the SRD website, WhatsApp, Chatbot, SMS, and in the SASSA office. You can choose any of the methods to apply for the R350 grant. The process to apply for the SRD R350 grant using different channels is discussed below:

Apply for the SASSA SRD R350 Grant Online

SASSA provides the facility to apply for R350 grants online for a fast SASSA application process. You can follow the steps below to apply for an R350 grant online:

Visit the official SASSA SRD website.
Enter your phone number and click on the “Send SMS” button.
Enter the 6-digit SASSA OTP you received on your mobile number and click the “Verify pin” button.
Agree the Terms and Conditions of the Declaration and Consent Documents.
Enter your 13-digit ID number or Special permit number.
Now provide your details like name, surname, gender, and address.
Provide your banking details if you want to choose the payment option as a bank transfer or choose the payment option as “Send Cash”.
Click on the “Submit” button and Agree with the Terms and Conditions.
After submitting your SASSA application you will receive a confirmation message on your mobile number.

SASSA SRD Application Through WhatsApp

SASSA gives the facility to R350 applicants to apply through their WhatsApp number. Follow the steps below to apply for Social Relief of Distress grant on WhatsApp:

Firstly, save the SASSA WhatsApp number “082 046 8553” on your mobile phone.
Send a message to the saved SASSA WhatsApp number.
Provide personal details as prompted by the WhatsApp bot.
After providing your details you will receive an OTP, reference number, and link in the chat.
Click on the link and verify the OTP.
Enter your Surname and ID number.
Confirm the details you provided in the WhatsApp chat.
Agree with the terms and conditions after reading the Declaration and Consent documents.
Provide your ID number, Name, Surname, Address, and gender as asked by the prompt.
Choose your payment method as “bank transfer” or “cash send”.
After submitting your banking details you will receive an application confirmation message on your registered mobile number.

Apply for an R350 Grant via SASSA Chatbot

You can choose the SASSA AI assistant Chatbot to apply for an R350 grant if you are having a problem applying manually on the SASSA website. Follow the steps below to apply for an SRD R350 grant on the chatbot:

Open the SASSA website on your mobile or browser.
Click on the “SRD R350 Grant Assistance” located on the right side of the page.
Enter your mobile number and ID number in the chat and send it on chat.
Choose the “I want to apply for SRD R350 Grant” through the chat.
Chatbot will send you the link to the SRD R350 website.
Click on the link and follow the steps to apply for the SASSA R350 grant.
After successfully applying for the R350 grant you will receive a confirmation message on your registered mobile number.

Apply for R350 Grant Application via SMS

If you do not have internet access then you can apply for an R350 grant via SMS by dialing the USSD code. Dial the R350 grant application USSD code *134*7737#. Follow the prompt instructions and complete the R350 grant application process. Once you complete the application process you will receive a confirmation message on your phone number.

SRD SASSA Gov Za Application in SASSA Office

If you feel it difficult to apply online for an SRD R350 grant through any of the above methods then you can simply apply for an SRD grant at your nearest SASSA office. Visit the SASSA office with the all required documents and fill out the SRD SASSA gov za application form in the presence of the SASSA officer.

Make sure to double-check the information you provided and submit it to the SASSA official. The SASSA officer will give you a stamped receipt. Keep the receipt as proof of your SRD R350 application.

SASSA Online Application for R350 Status Check

Once you have applied for the SASSA SRD R350 grant, you need to check your application status regularly to stay updated about your SASSA SRD application process. Follow the steps below to check your SASSA status:

Visit the SASSA status check page on our website.
Enter your South African ID number in the “ID Number” tab.
Enter your SASSA registered phone number in the “Cell Number” tab.
Click on the “Submit” button.
Your SASSA SRD application status will appear on the screen with the approved payment dates.

Why is My SASSA R350 Approved But No Payday

If your SASSA status shows that your grant is approved but no payday then it means that your SRD R350 grant is approved but there may be an issue in your application. You have to recheck and update your banking details and contact details in case of any error. The payment dates may also be delayed due to your bank balance is not according to SASSA mean test criteria. You can also contact SASSA to know the exact reason of delaying in your SRD grant payment dates.

How much is the SASSA SRD Grant

SASSA has set the SRD grant at R350 since its launch in October 2020. But now in the budget speech for the financial year 2024-25, the finance minister of South Africa announced that they are increasing the Social Relief of Distress grant along with other grants. He announced that they are increasing the SRD grant by R20 from April 2024. After the increase, the applicants for SRD grant will get R370 from April 2024.

SASSA Application for R350 Processing Time

SASSA needs 60 to 90 days to process your SRD grant application. However, it takes more time due to the high number of applications or any other reasons. Once, SASSA decides on your SRD application you will receive an SMS from SASSA on your registered mobile number.

What to do if your SASSA R350 Application is Denied

If your SASSA application for the Social Relief of Distress R350 grant is rejected and you strongly believe that you still qualify for the R350 grant then you can apply for an SASSA reapplication. SASS will review your grant again and decide on it. Make sure to correct the mistakes and then apply for the reapplication.

If your reapplication request is also rejected then there is a way in which you can apply for reconsideration request to SASSA. SASSA will evaluate your SRD application again and verify your documents properly. There are high chance that your reconsideration request will accepted and your R350 grant will be approved.

SASSA appeal is the last method if your reconsideration request is also rejected. You cannot again apply for reconsideration to the SASSA. If your reconsideration request is also rejected then you can appeal the SASSA decision to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA). ITSAA will review your application itself and if they believe that you are eligible for the SRD grant then they will reverse the decision of the SASSA. However, if your appeal request is also rejected then you cannot appeal the ITSAA decision.

SASSA Distress Grant Payment Process

Once your SRD application is approved then you can collect the R350 grant payment from the month your grant is approved. SASSA offers different channels to collect SASSA payments. If you choose the bank transfer method during the application process then SASSA will deposit your R350 grant directly into your bank account.

However, if you choose the Send cash method then you can collect your grant amount from SASSA-partnered retail stores such as Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Boxer, Checkers, Usave, and Spar. Provide your ID number at the retail outlet and collect your SRD R350 grant payment.

How to cancel SRD R350 Application

If you think that your financial circumstances have changed and you do not need the SRD grant now then you can cancel your application for R350 by the following method:

Open the SASSA SRD website cancellation page.
Enter your 13-digit ID number and SASSA registered phone number.
Click on the “Send Pin” button.
Enter the 6-digit OTP code you receive on your registered phone number and click the “Verify pin” button.
A new page will open. Click on the “Cancel My Grant” button.
Click on the “Yes” tab to confirm and your SASSA SRD application will be canceled.

How to Reinstate Your Cancelled SRD Grant Application

If you want to reactivate your previously canceled SRD application, then you can apply for an SRD R350 reinstatement request. Follow the steps below to reinstate your canceled application:

Visit the SASSA SRD website reinstate page.
Enter your ID number and mobile number and click on the “Send Pin” button.
Verify the OTP code you received on your phone number.
You will be redirected to the new page. Click on the “Reinstate My Grant” button.
Click on “Yes” to confirm that you want to reinstate your SASSA SRD application and your reinstatement request will be submitted.

How to Update Your SASSA SRD Grant Phone Number

It is important to update your contact details on the SASSA application if you change your phone number. It helps SASSA to contact you and you will stay updated about your SRD grant. The process to change your SASSA SRD application contact details is given below:

Visit the SASSA contact details update website page.
Enter your ID number and SRD grant Application ID.
Click on the “Submit” button.
You will be redirected to a new page.
Provide your new contact details and click on the “Submit” button.
SASSA will update your contact details within 24 hours.

How to Update Your SASSA Banking Details

If you changed your bank account then it is important to update it on the SASSA application also for timely payments. The process to change banking details is given below:

Visit the SRD website to change your banking details.
Scroll down to locate the “How do I change my banking details” section.
Enter your South African ID number and click on the “Submit” button.
Verify the OTP you will receive on your registered mobile number.
Open the secure link you will receive via SMS.
Enter your new bank account information and agree with the Terms and Conditions.
Your banking details will be updated once SASSA will verify your details.

How to Change Name and Surname on R350 Grant Application

If your SASSA SRD application is rejected due to an incorrect Name or Surname, then you can update your details and again apply for reapplication. SASSA allows you to update your Name and Surname once a month. The process to update Name and Surname information is given below:

Visit the SASSA website and scroll down to locate the “Request Names and Surname Update” section.
Enter your correct ID number, Name, and Surname, and click on the “Submit” button.
SASSA will verify your information with the Department of Home Affairs and you will receive a message once your information is updated.

SASSA R350 Extension

SASSA recently announced that they are extending the SRD R350 grant till March 2025. The other good news is that you do not need to reapply after every 3 months. Once your SRD grant application is approved, you will receive payments every month till March 2025. SASSA may extend the R350 grant further.

SASSA SRD R350 Contact Information

Toll-Free Number

0800 60 10 11

Head Office Number

012 400 2322

SASSA Email

[email protected]

SASSA R350 Grant FAQs

You can apply for the R350 grant online through the SASSA website, WhatsApp number, Chatbot, or offline method via SMS or by visiting the SASSA office.

Send a message to SASSA WhatsApp number “082 046 8553”. Verify the OTP you will receive on your mobile number and follow the prompt instructions to apply for R350 via WhatsApp.

You need your South African ID card or special permit, bank account statement, and proof of residential address to apply for an SRD grant.

SASSA will directly deposit the grant amount in your bank account or you will receive your grant amount from the nearest SASSA partnered retail store.

The previous grant amount was R350 which is now increased to R370 for the financial year 2024-25. The R350 grant recipients will receive R370 from April 2024.

R350 Application Conclusion

Millions of people in South Africa have relied on the SASSA SRD R350 grant since it was introduced in October 2020. It was introduced to help unemployed people of South Africa who have no other source of income and facing financial challenges. SRD grant is now an essential part of most of the South African population that’s why the government has decided to extend the grant till March 2025 and increase it to R370 from April 2024.

SASSA SRD R350 (New R370 ) Grant Application Process

SRD Application

SASSA R350 Grant Eligibility Criteria

Documents Required for the SRD Application Process

How to apply for the SASSA SRD R350 Grant