The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has released the official Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payment schedule. The grant payment schedule indicates when beneficiaries of the grant will be paid monthly.
More than 7 million people are currently benefiting from the SRD grant. The SRD grant payment dates indicate that these 7 million beneficiaries will only receive SRD grant payments towards the end of every month.
SRD Grant Payment Dates For 2023/24
- September 2023: 22 September - 29 September
- October 2023: 25 October - 31 October
- November 2023: 24 November - 30 November
- December 2023: 18 December - 22 December
- January 2024: 25 January - 31 January
- February 2024: 23 February - 29 February
- March 2024: 25 March - 29 March
Why Are SRD Grants Paid At The End Of The Month?
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.
Sassa encourages SRD grant beneficiaries to complete a Sassa status check to see if their grant application is approved and when they will be paid their grant.
Beneficiaries are reminded that grant payments will take between two and three working days to reflect in their bank account after Sassa made a SRD grant payment.
During that week clients are encouraged to view their status on the SRD website for the exact date that payment will reflect in bank accounts. Funds will take about 2 - 3 working days to reflect in the client’s account after payment has been processed.
Who Qualifies For The SRD Grant?
To be eligible for the SRD grant, applicants must meet specific requirements. These include being a South African citizen, residing within the country's borders, and being unemployed. Additionally, permanent residents and special permit holders are also eligible to receive the SRD grant.
Grant recipients should not be receiving any form of support from the South African government or any state-affiliated institution. Beneficiaries of Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) benefits and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are prohibited from receiving the SRD grant. Individuals should not be financially supported by any state institution.
SRD grant applicants may not have an income of more than R624. In terms of the SRD grant, income refers to the money a person has in their bank account. If the funds in their bank account exceed R624, their application for the SRD grant will be rejected.
How Sassa Verifies SRD Grant Applications
Sassa collaborates with other governmental entities and financial institutions to verify whether SRD grant applicants meet the eligibility criteria. This verification process includes confirming identity numbers and citizenship status through the Department of Home Affairs.
Bank verification occurs when the client's details are sent to the Department of Treasury, and then to the bank chosen by the applicant to verify their income.
Completing the Sassa Status Check for SRD Grant
By completing a Sassa Status Check, applicants can check their SRD grant status is approved. If their application is approved they will receive SRD grant payments.
If an applicant's SRD grant application is rejected, they have the option to submit an appeal to the Independent Tribunal For Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA).
