If you have applied for the SASSA SRD grant (still widely searched as the “R350 grant”), you can check your status for free in a few minutes without visiting an office. This guide covers every official way to track your application in 2026, what each result means, who qualifies, when you get paid, and what to do if your application is declined.
Quick Facts: SASSA SRD R370 Grant
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Grant amount | R370 per month |
| Official status portal | srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status |
| 082 046 8553 | |
| USSD | 12069277# (backup 1203210#) |
| Call centre | 0800 60 10 11 |
| Income limit (means test) | Below R624 per month |
| Age | 18 to 59 years |
| Current funding | Extended to 31 March 2027 |
Read Also: SASSA Payment Dates 2026: Full Schedule for All Grants
What is the SASSA R370 grant?
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant was introduced in May 2020 as a temporary R350 monthly payment during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was increased to R370 per month in April 2024, and that is the figure that still applies in 2026.
The amount has not gone up since then. In the February 2026 Budget, the grant was kept at R370 and extended until 31 March 2027 through an additional allocation, even as the older age, disability, and child support grants received increases from 1 April 2026.
It remains a temporary, means-tested grant for unemployed adults who have no other income or government support. Because it is reassessed every month, your status can change from one cycle to the next, which is why checking regularly matters.
How to track your SASSA application status
There are four official ways to check your SRD status. All of them are free and pull the same result from SASSA’s database, so use whichever suits your phone or data situation. You will need your 13-digit South African ID number and the cellphone number you registered with when you applied.
1. Check on the SASSA website
Go to the official portal: https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status
Scroll to the status section, enter your ID number and registered cellphone number, then submit. Your result for the current and past months will appear on screen. The portal is busiest in the morning, so if the page is slow or shows an error, try again in the evening.
2. Check on WhatsApp
Save 082 046 8553 to your contacts, open WhatsApp, and send “Hi” or “Status”. The SASSA chatbot will ask for your ID number and registered cellphone number and reply with your latest result. This uses data rather than airtime and works any time of day.
Note: this is now SASSA’s own WhatsApp line. Older guides that referred to a “GovChat” service are out of date.
3. Check using USSD (no data needed)
Dial *120*69277# from the phone number linked to your application and follow the prompts. If that code does not respond on your network, try the backup code *120*3210#. The older *134*7737# code still works in some cases but is being phased out. USSD works on any phone, including basic handsets, and needs no internet.
4. Call the call centre
Phone the toll-free line on 0800 60 10 11, Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 16:00. Have your ID number and registered cellphone number ready and an agent will read out your status. This is the best option if your online status looks stuck or seems wrong.
What your status result means
When you check, you will usually see one of the following:
- Approved: Your grant for that month is confirmed and a payment date will be shown.
- Pending: SASSA is still verifying your details against Home Affairs, SARS, UIF, NSFAS, and bank records. This is normal early in the cycle; wait before raising a query.
- Declined: You failed at least one check. The reason will be listed next to the result.
- Referred: Usually a bank account holder verification is still in progress.
- Reapplication required: You need to submit a fresh declaration before you can be paid again.
- No record found: The ID or phone number does not match any application on file. Double-check your details.
How to apply for the SRD R370 grant
If you have not applied yet, the process is free and you do not need to upload supporting documents such as your ID, proof of address, or bank statements. You only sign a declaration of consent allowing SASSA to verify your information against government and banking databases.
You will need to provide:
- Your full name and surname as shown on your ID
- Your ID number or Home Affairs permit number
- Your gender and disability status
- Your contact details and residential address
- Your bank details (you can still apply without a bank account)
The main ways to apply are:
- Website: Go to https://srd.sassa.gov.za, choose your residency type (South African citizen, permanent resident, refugee, asylum seeker, or special permit holder), enter your ID and cellphone number, verify the OTP, agree to the terms, and complete your details.
- WhatsApp: Message 082 046 8553 and follow the chatbot prompts to complete your application.
- USSD: Dial *134*7737# and follow the prompts.
Who qualifies for the SRD grant?
To be approved for the R370 SRD grant in 2026, you must:
- Be a South African citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or asylum seeker (with a valid permit)
- Be living within South Africa
- Be between 18 and 59 years old
- Be unemployed with no income
- Not receive any other SASSA social grant
- Not receive UIF benefits, and not qualify to receive them
- Not receive an NSFAS bursary or stipend
- Earn less than R624 per month from any source
Eligibility is checked every month, so being declined one month does not mean you are barred for good. If your circumstances change, you may qualify again the following cycle.
How the means test works
The income limit is the most common reason people are declined. Your total income must stay below R624 per month. Each cycle SASSA scans bank accounts linked to your ID and cross-checks SARS, UIF, NSFAS, and Home Affairs records.
Even a once-off deposit can cause a problem. A single transfer from a family member, a loan, or a refund that pushes your account above R624 in a given month can trigger an automatic decline for that month, even if you have no regular income. This is why the same person can be approved one month and declined the next.
SASSA SRD payment dates and methods
The SRD grant is paid later in the month than the permanent grants. SRD payments are processed in batches during the last week of each month, usually between the 24th and the end of the month. There is no single fixed date for everyone; your payment date is assigned individually once your monthly verification clears.
You can be paid in one of two main ways:
- Bank deposit: Paid directly into a bank account in your own name.
- Cash collection (CashSend): Withdrawn at participating banks and retailers using a secure code.
Do not go to collect your money before you receive an SMS from SASSA confirming the funds are available. If your status shows “Approved” but no money arrives after a few business days, check with your bank first, then call SASSA.
Note: the South African Post Office is no longer used to pay SRD grants. For the permanent grants, the Postbank Black Card has replaced the old SASSA Gold Card, with a card-swap deadline of 31 August 2026.
How to change your banking or contact details
If your payment method or phone number changes, update it carefully so your grant is not delayed or paid to the wrong place:
- Go to the official site: https://srd.sassa.gov.za/
- For banking details, follow the secure link and instructions. The account must be in your own name. SASSA cannot pay your grant into someone else’s account or into a cellphone number registered to another person.
- For a phone number change, you will need to verify your identity, which may include your registered bank’s last four digits or a face-scan (biometric) check.
Only update details that have actually changed. Unnecessary updates can pause your payment while SASSA re-verifies you.
How to appeal a declined application
If your application is declined and you believe it is wrong, you have 90 days from the decline date to request a reconsideration. The process is free and you do not need a lawyer.
- Go to https://srd.sassa.gov.za/appeal and enter your ID and registered cellphone number.
- Select the month you are appealing. You must appeal each declined month separately.
- Submit supporting evidence, such as a bank statement showing a flagged deposit was a gift or loan.
If the reconsideration is also declined, you can take it further to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA). Note that you should keep reapplying for new months while an appeal on an earlier month is still pending.
Watch out for scams
SASSA will never ask for your PIN, your OTP, or your banking password, and will never charge a fee to “unlock” or speed up your grant. Anyone asking for money is a fraudster. Stick to the official channels only: the website srd.sassa.gov.za, WhatsApp on 082 046 8553, USSD on 12069277#, and the call centre on 0800 60 10 11. Avoid “status check” links shared in WhatsApp groups or social media comments.
Read Also: NSFAS Funding: Everything You Need to Know to Apply
Disclaimer: This guide is for general information. Grant amounts, dates, and rules can change. Always confirm the latest details on the official SASSA website or at your nearest SASSA office.
