While Sassa permanent grants have a fixed payment schedule, the R350 grant typically does not. However, Sassa recently announced that they'll be implementing set Sassa grant payment dates for the SRD grant, in order to keep recipients informed as to when their Sassa grant money is ready for collection.
The rule Sassa will now follow with Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payments is that SRD payments will be made during the last week of the month. You can always check your Sassa status online.
SRD Grant Payment Schedule For November
For November, SRD grant beneficiaries can expect their Sassa grant payments to be made from 24 November until 30 November.
During payment week, Sassa has encouraged beneficiaries to view their Sassa status on the SRD website, to have a look at the exact date that their grant payment will reflect in their bank accounts.
The Agency has reminded grant recipients that it takes around 2-3 working days for their funds to reflect in the beneficiaries' account, after the payment has been processed.
Why Are SRD Grants Being Paid So Late?
A Sassa representative explained that all SRD grant applications are verified to ensure the grant applicant meets the eligibility requirements for the grant. While SRD grant beneficiaries only submit a SRD grant application once, their SRD grant eligibility status is verified by Sassa every month before they can receive the relief grant.
The SRD Grant eligibility verification checks conducted by Sassa are usually completed towards the end of the month. This is because Sassa collaborates with several government entities and banks to verify information provided by SRD grant applicants.
Why Hasn't The R350 Grant Been Increased?
According to the Department of Social Development, the lack of an increase is due to "fiscal constraints." Despite the department's request to the National Treasury for an increase, it was not favourably considered due to these fiscal constraints.
Both the Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, and Brenda Sibeko, the Deputy Director-General at the department, have expressed their desire for an increase in the SRD grant. However, there has been no official confirmation of a grant increase, and it currently remains at the value of R350 per month.
