The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has begun the process of distributing Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payments for January 2024. Grant payments will only be made to individuals whose R350 grant applications were approved for the first month of 2024.
Sassa will begin paying January SRD grants on Thursday 25 January 2024. They will continue paying grants to approved applicants until 31 January 2024.
Why SRD Grant Payments Are Made At The End Of The Month
Many SRD grant applicants wonder why the grant is paid at the end of the month, while other Sassa grants are paid at the beginning of the month.
Sassa explained that SRD grant payments are paid in the final week of the month as this is when they have likely completed their verification process.
It's important to note that while grant payments are scheduled to be processed between these dates, the money may only reflect in the SRD grant beneficiary’s bank account a few days later.
Funds will take about 2 - 3 working days to reflect in the client’s account after payment has been processed.
To qualify for the SRD grant in South Africa, applicants must meet certain criteria. They need to be citizens, residents, or special permit holders, but they shouldn't be receiving other government support in the form of UIF benefits or NSFAS bursaries. Their bank account should have less than R624 to be eligible for the R350 grant.
Sassa verifies applicants through collaborations with the Department of Home Affairs for identity and citizenship checks. Bank details are shared with the Department of Treasury for income verification. The bank verification process varies in duration. Once completed, the verified information is handed over to Sassa for grant payment.
Only when Sassa is satisfied that the applicant meets all the eligibility requirements will they proceed with payments. These verification checks take some time and therefore grants are paid at the end of the month.
How To Check If Your SRD Grant Application Was Successful
Sassa encouraged grant beneficiaries to complete a Sassa status check to see when their SRD grant will be paid. If an applicant’s SRD Sassa Application is rejected, you can submit a SRD grant appeal to the Independent Tribunal For Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA).
Impact Of The SRD Grant
The SRD grant was meant to be a short-term temporary grant made available to unemployed people during lockdowns. However, the grant has been extended to several occupations due to its importance to individuals without any income.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the grant kept millions out of poverty, regardless of its relatively small value. It therefore came as welcomed news for millions of people when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced an extension of the SRD Grant for an additional 12 months.
The grant’s implementation was initially set to conclude in March 2024. However, the extension announcement means that grants will be paid to eligible individuals until March 2025.
