If you've applied for the R350 SRD grant from Sassa and you're unsure how to check your Sassa application status online, keep reading to find out how to do so.
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant was introduced to help any South African citizen between 18 and 60 who needed financial support.
The application process was quite complicated at first because the grant was rushed in during the Covid lockdown. Now the application process is much simpler and things like payment dates have been streamlined.
The SRD grant has been extended until March 2024 but it is not clear if the social grant will be retained after that.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has made it quite easy for applicants of the R350 grant to track their application by providing them with their Sassa SRD application status online.
Financial Support
Sassa is responsible for providing financial aid to South African citizens via social security benefits. The Social Assistance Act is managed by the Social Development Department and this determines how many Sassa grants are paid out.
Your Sassa payment status is determined by set rules and eligibility criteria established by the government.The social grants paid out by Sassa include the R350 SRD grant, the child support grant and disability grant, amongst others.
How To Check Your Status Online
There are many ways to contact Sassa. You don't have to visit any of the Sassa offices to work on your Sassa grant status. There is a Sassa toll free number, and you can visit the Sassa Head Office, but it is much easier to check your Sassa status online.
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To check your Sassa status go to the SASSA SRD grant website
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Scroll down to the 'South African ID Holders' and click the 'click here to proceed' tab
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Then, scroll down to 'Application status' for your SRD grant
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Click on 'Click here to check online'
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Fill in your ID number and the phone number that you used for your application, then+ click 'submit'
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You should then be able to see the SRD status of your R350 grant application
Sassa Status Codes
The report might show the status 'reapplication pending' on your SRD grant application. The status could also be 'bank details pending'. Once you know what is impacting on your Sassa SRD status you can work to remedy it.
You should also check that they have the correct bank details for you. Your grant can be paid into a bank account at any of the major financial institutions.
If your application status is not showing despite your Sassa status check, Sassa has responded to this issue and said, "Remember the application system is now processing millions of applications at once. You will be able to view your current status soon."
SRD Grant Payment Methods
The Sassa SRD grant was available from the Post Office, but they no longer do SRD grant payments. The easiest way to get your SASSA SRD grant is probably through a bank account.
You have to register your bank account details with Sassa and then once the verification is completed your social relief grant
Official Sassa website
Please remember that you must use the official Sassa website - not one of the many scam sites out there. You must contact Sassa directly and don't give your personal information about social grants to anyone else.
By checking on the official Sassa website applicants can check to see if they have been approved for the grant or whether they do not qualify.
You might decide to lodge an appeal if you feel like your application has been denied for a reason that you believe is not fair.
Related Articles With Information About Sassa
Social Relief Of Distress Grant
The applications for the Special Covid-19 SRD grant, more commonly known as the R350 grant will close in March 2024. The grant has been reintroduced in efforts to provide financial relief to poor and vulnerable South Africans who need assistance to meet their or their families most basic needs, while the country battles with the effects of Covid-19.
All applications will be treated as new applications every month. However, each applicant would only need to apply once for their application to be considered every month.
Asylum seekers
As well as South African citizens the SRD grant is also available to those seeking asylum and special permit holders, who can also make a grant application. To qualify as an asylum seeker, an individual must have lodged an application for asylum with the Department of Home Affairs and possess a valid Section 22 permit or an Asylum Transit Permit.
They must also meet the other eligibility criteria set by Sassa, including income and asset limitations.
The inclusion of asylum seekers in the SRD Grant recognizes their vulnerable status and the need for humanitarian support during the asylum application process.
What Has The Impact Been of the Social Relief Grant?
Research conducted into the financial assistance provided by the grant, which was conducted by the University of Johannesburg (UJ), has revealed that in 2022, more than 20 million people were recipients of the Sassa SRD grant.
The pandemic, and the hard lockdowns that followed, left many of the country's citizens without employment and income. According to UJ's research, 10.5 million people received the R350 grant per month during 2022.
In total, more than 28 million people received social grants throughout last year. An even larger number had submitted a grant application during the year.
Before the pandemic, 18 million (31%) South Africans depended on social grants for their basic needs, and now (since the introduction of the SRD grant), 47% of the country's population are reliant on grants.
The introduction of the SRD grant for unemployed adult individuals in 2020, and the expansion of that grant, has managed to enable Sassa to assist just under half of the population who are now recipients of social assistance in the form of an unconditional cash transfer, says the research report.
The total number of overall beneficiaries increased from 31% of the total population in 2019, to 47% in 2022, as per Sassa's data.
The SRD grant has definitely provided much-needed help to those who were/are unemployed, and has also resulted in a 25% increase in job searches amongst the beneficiaries of the grant.
Although that is welcomed news, "there is still limited evidence of the nature and scope of informal livelihood activities of grant beneficiaries, and how government and other social partners may be able to support people's agency and strengthen their livelihood strategies in a context of extraordinarily high rates of unemployment," stated UJ's research.
The grant status is not certain however. Sassa head office have been tight lipped on whether there will be another extension of the SRD grant past March 2024.
Verification and Payment Status
Once you have made a grant application you will want to check your Sassa status so that you know when you can expect the payment into your bank account. But this is only once you have confirmed your application status. There is no longer a set payment date for the SRD grant as there was when you made your initial SRD grant application.
The Post office used to distribute the Social Relief grant but they no longer do this. Since the Post Office was one of the best places to collect in person, it is now probably better to have the payment made into your bank account. You must make sure that you give the correct banking details to Sassa so that your social grant isn't paid to someone else!
How To Do A Sassa Status Check?
SRD grant applicants should always make a note to 'check Sassa status' whenever they can. You can do a Sassa status check in a number of ways. You can visit your nearest Sassa office but that isn't the best way as there are often long queues. If might be easier to use the Sassa Toll Free number to contact them to find your Sassa balance.
The Sassa SRD grant is very popular so you can expect lots of people to me queuing to do an SRD status check.
When you check your Sassa status it might report that you have a UIF payment. This does happen from time to time when you apply for the Sassa SRD grant.
If you check on your mobile phone you might get a Sassa status pin for you to verify your identity. After verifying with the pin you can go on to confirm your SRD grant application status.
Always be careful when sharing your cell phone number and ID number when online or an a call.
What Is Your Sassa Payment Status?
When you check on your Sassa status, either online or in person, you will receive one of a number of messages in return to explain the status of your payment of the Social Relief of Distress grant.
When you do your SRD status check on your Sassa grant you should also receive information on your grant payment date. Even if you don't receive the status code 'bank details pending' it is still good to confirm your banking details with Sassa. If your bank details are not correct you will not receive any money.
These are the status codes you might receive about your Sassa status:
Reapplication Pending:
Your application is being processed, and a decision has not been made yet.
Approved:
Your application has been approved, and you are eligible to receive the grant.
Rejected:
Your application has been rejected due to various reasons, such as ineligibility or incomplete documentation.
Pending Appeal:
Your application has been rejected, but you have lodged an appeal, and it is awaiting a decision.
Cancelled:
Your application has been canceled, possibly due to duplication, incorrect information, or non-compliance with the grant's requirements.
Paid:
Your grant has been approved, and the funds have been disbursed to your designated account or method of payment.
Suspended:
Your grant has been temporarily suspended, typically due to a review or investigation into your eligibility or compliance.
Inactive:
Your grant has been deactivated, either due to non-utilization or specific circumstances that render you temporarily ineligible.
Incomplete:
Your application is missing required information or documentation, and it cannot proceed until the necessary details are provided.
Pending Verification:
Your application is under review, and SASSA is verifying the information provided to determine your eligibility.
Bank Details Pending:
This self explanatory message means that you have to supply your bank account details to Sassa.
If your Sassa status check failed you will need to try again. Then you will get to the 'reapplication pending' status.
Other Sassa Grants:
Child Support Grant Beneficiaries
The Child Support Grant aims to provide financial assistance to eligible families for the care and support of their children. It plays a crucial role in alleviating poverty and ensuring the well-being of vulnerable children across South Africa. If you are the primary caregiver of a child who should qualify then you should make a Sassa grant application.
The child support grant is targeted at low-income families who meet specific criteria. It provides a monthly stipend to the primary caregivers of children under the age of 18.
This grant contributes to covering essential expenses such as food, clothing, education, and healthcare, thus enabling families to provide a better quality of life for their children.
By supporting families in need, the Child Support Grant helps in reducing child poverty and promoting social development. It recognizes the importance of investing in children's well-being and their future prospects.
Through this program, the South African government demonstrates its commitment to addressing socioeconomic inequalities and ensuring equal opportunities for all children.
Disability Grant Recipients
The Sassa Disability Grant is a vital social welfare program that provides financial help to individuals with disabilities who need financial help. It aims to improve their quality of life, enhance their independence, and enable them to participate fully in society.
The grant plays a crucial role in addressing the unique challenges and barriers faced by people with disabilities.
Eligibility for Disability Grant:
Eligibility for the Disability Grant is based on several criteria. Firstly, the applicant must be a South African citizen or permanent resident. They should be at least 18 years old and must have a medically certified disability that has lasted for at least six months and renders them unable to work. The disability must be severe enough to limit their functional capacity or ability to earn a sustainable income. Additionally, the applicant's income and assets should fall below the prescribed threshold.
Payment methods for the Disability Grant are designed to ensure accessibility and convenience for recipients. The primary payment method is through the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) debit card.
Payment Date:
Once approved, beneficiaries receive a Sassa card, onto which their monthly grant is loaded. This card can be used to make withdrawals at ATMs, make purchases at point-of-sale terminals, or transfer funds to other bank accounts.
There is no longer an official payment date for the Social Relief of Distress grant, so payment dates can vary for different people. This can be impacted by your grant status.
Furthermore, beneficiaries can opt for electronic fund transfers to their personal bank accounts. (So you must make sure Sassa have your correct banking details.) As the Post Office no longer gives out the grant this is very convenient.
This method allows for seamless integration with existing banking services and enables recipients to access their funds through online banking, ATMs, or by making purchases with their bank card.
Check your Sassa SRD balance status to get an idea of how much you will receive.
Payment Frequency:
The Disability Grant is paid on a monthly basis, providing a reliable source of income to cover essential expenses such as food, housing, healthcare, and assistive devices. The amount of the grant is reviewed annually and is subject to adjustment based on inflation and government policies.
Sassa SRD Grant Banking Details
If you need to change your Sassa banking details - including banking details for your SRD grant we have all the details for you. As the grant is re-approved every month you need to make sure that your banking details with Sassa are correct or your grant won't be paid. The bank account must be in your own name as grants can't be paid into someone else's account. You'll find all the details in our Sassa banking details FAQ. You can also view our video on how to check your Sassa grant status.
Impact of the Grant:
The impact of the Disability Grant on the lives of recipients cannot be overstated and it is one of the most important social grants. It provides financial stability and a sense of dignity to individuals who face significant challenges due to their disabilities. The grant enables them to access necessary healthcare services, obtain assistive devices, and participate more actively in their communities.
By addressing the financial burden associated with disabilities, the grant promotes inclusivity and improves the overall well-being of people with disabilities in South Africa. If you feel you are a family member should received the Disability Grant please contact Sassa to make a grant application.
For more information on any of the social grants, visit the Sassa website.
