SASSA R350 Grant 2026: How to Apply Online
The grant everyone still calls the "R350" is the SASSA Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant — now paying R370 per month to unemployed South Africans. Here's how to apply online at srd.sassa.gov.za, what disqualifies you, and what to do if your application is declined.
At a glance
Amount
R370/mo
Means test
R624
max monthly income
Apply at
srd.sassa.gov.za
Cost to apply
Free
Who qualifies
You must meet all of these:
- South African citizen, permanent resident, refugee, asylum-seeker or special-permit holder
- Aged 18 to 59 (over-60s apply for the Older Persons Grant)
- Unemployed and not receiving any income above R624/month
- Not receiving any other SASSA grant (Child Support Grant is the only exception)
- Not receiving UIF benefits
- Not receiving NSFAS funding
- Not resident in a government-funded institution (prison, state psychiatric hospital, etc.)
How to apply online — step by step
- 1
Open the official SASSA site
Go to srd.sassa.gov.za (note the .gov.za — fake sites use .com or .co.za).
- 2
Click "Apply for SRD"
On the homepage, find the green Apply button. If you have applied before, use "Application Status" instead.
- 3
Enter your ID number
Your 13-digit South African ID. SASSA cross-references this with Home Affairs.
- 4
Enter your cellphone number
Use a number you currently have access to — this is locked to your application.
- 5
Verify with the OTP
A 6-digit code is SMS'd to you. Enter it on the site.
- 6
Confirm personal details
Name, surname and address are pre-filled from Home Affairs. Check for errors before continuing.
- 7
Provide banking details
Your own bank account is fastest. SASSA also pays via Post Office, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Boxer or Checkers.
- 8
Read the declaration and submit
Tick the consent boxes confirming the means-test declaration. Screenshot the confirmation.
Other ways to apply
Send "Hi" to 082 046 8553 and follow the prompts.
USSD (no data)
Dial *134*7737# on any cellphone.
Phone
Call 0800 60 10 11 (toll-free, Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00).
In person
Walk in to your nearest SASSA office with your ID and proof of address.
Why applications get declined
| Reason | What it means |
|---|---|
| Means test failed | SASSA saw deposits above R624 in your bank account. |
| UIF registered | You are listed as a UIF claimant on the Department of Labour database. |
| NSFAS registered | You appear on the NSFAS funded-student list. |
| Identity verification failed | Home Affairs could not confirm your ID — visit a Home Affairs office to fix. |
| Alternative income source | SARS records show income from employment or self-employment. |
| Bank verification failed | Account name doesn't match your ID. Update banking details on the portal. |
Watch out for scams
- · SASSA never charges an application or "verification" fee.
- · The only official portal is srd.sassa.gov.za — not srd.sassa.com, sassa.org, or any .co.za variant.
- · SASSA does not ask for your bank PIN, online banking password or OTP for anything other than the official OTP step.
- · Report fraud to the SASSA hotline: 0800 701 701.
Related guides
- Next step
Check your SRD status
Track whether this month's payment is approved, pending or declined.
- If declined
How to appeal a SASSA decline
Lodge a reconsideration within 90 days if your means test failed unfairly.
- Schedule
2026 SASSA payment dates
When SRD, old-age and child-support grants are paid each month.
- Loans
Can you get a loan on a SASSA grant?
What a grant qualifies for, and the upfront-fee "SASSA loan" scams to avoid.