SASSA SRD R350 Grant – A Complete Guide to Application, Eligibility, Payments, and More

The South African government offers financial aid through the Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD Grant) to its residents who are struggling financially, are unable to provide for their family’s most basic requirements, and require short-term support.

The government organization in charge of managing the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) award is the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). In compliance with section 32 of the Social Assistance Act of 2004, the Ministry of Finance approves the administration of the Social Relief of Distress grant to ensure efficient and appropriate financial management.

We will go over all the details and the application procedure for the SASSA SRD R350 Grant in this article. We’ll also provide you with advice on how to meet the requirements and what to do if your application is turned down.

Eligibility Criteria For The SASSA SRD Grant

You must first ascertain your eligibility for the SRD grant by familiarizing yourself with its eligibility requirements before applying. The following criteria apply:

Essential Information And Required Documents to Apply for SRD R350 Grant

Once your eligibility for the SASSA SRD grant has been verified, you can apply by giving SASSA the necessary data and supporting documentation (certified copies or originals).

Before completing the application, you must attest that you have read the Declaration and Consent Documents and that you agree to its terms and conditions. The following documents are needed:

Before applying for the SASSA SRD award, please ensure that you have all the necessary paperwork together and that it is current. It is advised to verify the most recent requirements on the SASSA official website as the document requirements are subject to change.

Procedure to Apply for the SASSA SRD R350 Grant

To apply for the SRD R350 award, you must have a laptop, PC, or smartphone with an active internet connection. To ensure that your application is submitted accurately, kindly complete these steps:

Step 1: Choosing the Application Channel

For the SRD grant, you can apply using the SASSA official website, the chatbot, or WhatsApp. Your application may only be submitted once and in one way. Your application procedure won’t be sped up by multiple submissions.

Apply Online Through the SASSA SRD Website:

1. Visit the SASSA official website from the link https://srd.sassa.gov.za/said.
2. Navigate to the “How do I apply for this SRD Grant” section and click the “click here to apply online” button. 
3. Provide your mobile number which is registered on your name and currently active. 
4. Click on the “Send SMS” button. 
5. The OTP code will be sent to your provided phone number.
6. Enter that code on the website and click “Verify Pin”.
7. Continue to the below step 2.

Apply Through WhatsApp:

1. Save the SRD WhatsApp number 082 046 8553 in your contact.
2. Send a message to the saved WhatsApp number.
3. Provide the personal information asked in the chat.
4. You will receive the OPT code, a reference number, and the SRD website link in chat.
5. Click on the link, provide the OTP, and click verify.
6. Provide your ID number and Surname
7. Confirm your details are the same as given on WhatsApp chat.
8. Continue from the below step 2.

Apply Through the SASSA Chatbot:

1. Navigate to the SASSA website in your browser.
2. Click on the “SRD R350 Grant Assistance” chatbot (located on the right side of the website page).
3. Provide your ID number and mobile number in chat.
4. You will be provided the options in chat. Select “I want to apply for SRD R350 grant” from the options.
5. You will be provided with the link to the SRD website in chat.
6. Click on the provided link and continue from the below step 2.

Step 2: Agree to the Terms & Conditions

You will now be prompted to read the consent and declaration terms and conditions and indicate your agreement to them. Read the provisions of the You and Your Special COVID-19 SRD Grant paper as well, and sign it. Proceed to the following step when you have understood and accepted them.

Step 3: Fill Out Your Personal Information

Now fill out your details including:

• Your Identity Document (ID) Number
• Your Full Name and Surname (As they are stated on your ID document)
• Your Gender
• Your Residential Address
• Your contact details (including your phone number and email)
• Your employment and financial information
• Any other supported documents to prove your eligibility

Please keep in mind that SASSA can also ask you for further information.

Step 4: Select Your Preferred Payment Method (Banking Details)

You might be applying for the SRD award for the first time, or you might have applied for it before. Thus, in both cases, this phase will be a little different. Please take the appropriate actions listed below:

For New Applicants:

If you are applying for the first time for an SRD grant, you will be asked to select one from the following two payment methods:

Bank Account:

If you are going to use a bank account as your payment method, you need to provide the following banking details:

The bank account should be in your name, as SASSA can’t pay your payments to the other person’s bank account.

Cash Send:

To use Cash Send as your payment method:

For Existing Applicants:

If you have applied for the SRD grant in the past and your payment method was a bank account, then follow the steps:

If your previous payment method was cash send method, but you want to change it to a bank account method, then provide the following banking details:

Please remember that SASSA is unable to transfer funds to another person’s bank account, thus the bank account you supply must be in your name.

Step 5: Confirmation Message

You will now get an SMS verifying your banking details on the number you have provided. Congratulations! This confirmation indicates that your application for the SASSA SRD R350 is currently live.

Step 6: SASSA Verification Process

Now that you have finished the process, the application has been sent to SASSA. They will now confirm and authenticate all of your data obtained from official government databases:

SASSA will either approve or deny your SRD grant application with a good reason after the verification process is finished. Your application process cycle has thus ended.

How To Apply For SRD Grant Via SMS Method

You can apply using the mobile SMS method if you don’t have an internet connection. Enter the USSD code 1347737# and adhere to the guidelines shown in the following video:

How much is the SASSA SRD Grant?

From the day of its introduction, the SASSA SRD award has a monthly sum of R350. Although there have been some suggestions to raise the sum, nothing has been decided as of yet.

Processing Time for the Application of the SASSA SRD Grant

The SASSA SRD R350 grant application takes sixty to ninety days to process. Depending on how many applications they are getting, it can change. You will get payment as of the application date once your grant has been authorized and your application has been processed. If your application was turned down, SASSA will send you a letter outlining the reasons for the denial as well as instructions on how to file an appeal.

SASSA R350 Grant Status Check

Following the submission of your application, you may monitor its progress by doing a status check to find out whether it was accepted or rejected as well as its current state. Following approval of your application, you must periodically check the status of your planned grant installments and their dates in order to stay informed. The following techniques can be used to check the status of an SASSA SRD grant:

Reapplication Process for SRD R350 Grant Application

The procedure for resubmitting an SASSA application is the same as it was for the first time. Applicants who were previously eligible for an SRD grant but either missed the deadline for their first application or had their grant period expire are the ones who must go through this process. The application must be submitted using the srd.sassa.gov.za link on the SASSA website. The same details that you submitted with your initial SRD grant application must be submitted, including:

SASSA will review your application once again to make a decision. If your application is approved, you will start receiving payments else you will be notified if the application is declined.

How to Reconsider Your SRD Grant Application

You can ask the SASSA to review your application again through the reconsideration process if your first application for an SRD award is denied. If you think your application was rejected unfairly, you have the right to request a review. You must confirm the accuracy of your personal information and other facts before applying. Once your application has been rejected, you have thirty days to reapply.

Lodge an Appeal for Your SASSA SRD R350 Grant

You have the right to appeal the decision of your SASSA SRD grant to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) if your reconsideration request is likewise denied but you still don’t agree with the SASSA decision. After being informed, you have 90 days to file an appeal with the following information:

All information is sent to ITSAA via the srd.dsd.gov.za/appeals/appeal page. If ITSAA finds in your favor, they will reverse the SASSA ruling and you will begin receiving SRD grant payments; if your appeal is denied, you will be informed.

Understanding the SRD Grant Payment Process

You will start receiving payment the day your SRD grant is approved. Since SASSA doesn’t have a set date, they release the payment schedule each month. Examine the dates for the next SASSA payments.

SASSA will pay you the grant payments through the following two methods (You need to opt for one):

How to Cancel your SRD R350 Grant Application

You have the option to withdraw your application before it is granted if your financial situation improves. You will have to file an appeal to get your application canceled if it has already been granted.

Make sure your grant is still active by checking your application status on the SASSA website before canceling. There is no need to cancel your application if it is not active. However, if it is active, you must use the following procedure to terminate your application:

How To Reinstate Your Canceled SRD R350 Grant Application

The process of asking to have your previously canceled application reactivated is known as reinstating an application. You may decide that you no longer require the R350 SRD grant and decide to terminate your application owing to a change in your employment or financial condition. However, later on, things happen or you leave your job, in which case you have to reapply for the application that was canceled.

In these scenarios, you can reinstate your SASSA application by the following method:

Updating Your SRD Grant Contact Details

You need to update your contact details if they are changed to ensure that you receive your grant payments without any interruption.

You can update your contact details by the following method:

• Visit the SRD website through this link: https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/contact.
• Provide your ID number and the Application ID that SASSA issued to you when you applied or reapplied for the grant.
• Now provide your new contact details.
• Click ”submit”.

Please keep in mind that the changes will appear within 24 hours after the update.

How to Change Your SRD Grant Banking Details

The option to update banking details is only available to registered SASSA SRD 350 grant beneficiaries. The process to update the banking details differs for African Nationality Holders and Asylum Seekers/Special Permit Holders. You have to visit the website through the link, head over to the bottom and confirm your nationality:

You need to provide your bank account registered on your name, as SASSA cannot pay your grant in another person’s bank account. The same goes for the mobile number, and it should also be registered on your name. The new bank details will be only used for future payments after the verification.