SASSA Status Check - See If Your SRD Grant Is Approved
The Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD Grant) is a lifeline for many people living in South Africa, who find themselves unemployed and without financial means to support themselves. The SRD Grant of R350 is paid to more than 7 million people in SA and if you are one of them, you are probably wondering when your payment will arrive this month.
Before you get paid the SRD Grant, you must make sure you meet all the criteria. Those who do not qualify (even if they are in financial need), will unfortunately not receive this social assistance from the government.
Let's start with the criteria for the SRD Grant, before we move on to how to apply and thereafter check your status!
Who can qualify for the SRD Grant?
To apply, you must be either a South African Citizen, a Refugee, an Asylum Seeker or a Special Permit Holder. You must also be an adult, between the ages of 18 and 60 years. The criteria also states that you must have insufficient means to support yourself and you must not be receiving any other social grants from SASSA, for yourself (i.e. you can still apply if you receive a child grant for your child)
The criteria also states that you must not be contributing to or eligible for UIF payment, and you must not have financial support from another source.
How can I apply for the SRD Grant?
If you meet all of these criteria, then you may go on to apply via one of these methods:
1. Apply Online
Visit the SASSA SRD website: www.srd.sassa.gov.za
Scroll down to the bottom and select if you are a:
- South African ID Holder with a South African ID Card or Green ID Book with a 13 digit SA ID number: www.srd.sassa.gov.za/said
- Asylum Seekers with a valid File Number or Special Permit Holders from Zimbabwe, Angola or Lesotho: www.srd.sassa.gov.za/asylum
2. Apply on WhatsApp
Add this number to your contacts: 082 046 8553
Send a message saying "Hello"
Follow the prompts
You will not be asked to submit any documents - all information will be provided electronically.
Make sure that you provide SASSA with a cellphone number where you can be reached as they will provide you with feedback on the status of your application.
How can I check my SASSA Status?
Now that your SRD grant application has been submitted to SASSA, you can check your status.
Ways to check your SASSA SRD Grant status:
1. Visit the www.srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status website and fill in your South African ID number and the mobile number you used to apply.
2. Send a message to the WhatsApp number 082 046 8553 and follow the steps to check your status - you will fill in your South African ID number and the mobile number you used to apply.
3. Call the toll free number 0800 60 10 11 and following the steps.
Note: when checking your status via any of the above methods, you will be required to provide your Identity Number and cellphone number, you may also be asked to provide other personal information to prove you are the applicant.
Now that you have checked your status, you will want to know what your status means - read on to find out.
What does my SRD status mean?
Applications complete: this status means you successfully completed the application process and will be verified each month for the grant.
Bank details pending: this status means you did not submit your banking details or payment preference. Go back to the SRD website www.srd.sassa.gov.za/said and fill in your banking details.
- You will need to insert your ID number, you will then receive an SMS with a secure link (to the cell phone number you registered with). After clicking the link, you must follow the instructions provided to you.
- You may only be paid into a bank account that is in your name. The new banking details will be verified before your grant is paid.
- If you wish to be paid via money transfer from a major bank, you must ensure that the cell phone number where you received the SMS is in your name. SASSA cannot pay your grant into a mobile phone number which is registered to another person.
Reapplication pending: this status means you did not submit your re-application successfully. Refer to the application instructions above and resubmit your application.
Pending: this status means you successfully completed the application process and your application is being verified. Check your status again shortly.
Approved: this status means you were approved for the SRD grant for that month. Check your payment date to see when you can expect to receive your grant money. If the payment date is not reflecting, your payment is still being processed.
Declined: this status means you were declined for the SRD grant for that month. You should also see the reason for your decline. If you were declined in error, you can submit an appeal to have your application reassessed. (see more below)
Canceled: this status means your grant has been cancelled. You may apply to have your grant reinstated: www.srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/reinstate
Why was my SRD grant declined?
alternative_income_source_identified: this decline reason means SASSA has picked up that you have received money into your account, over a certain threshold (it doesn't matter if you received this money from a job or from a family member).
identity_verification_failed: this decline reason means SASSA has picked up that the personal information you submitted in your application does not match up to your information on the Department of Home Affairs database.
exsiting_sassa_grant: this decline reason means SASSA has picked up that you are already receiving a social grant for yourself (this can be any other type of social grant).
nsfas_registered: this decline reason means SASSA has picked up that you are already receiving NSFAS and are therefore not eligible for the SRD grant.
uif_registered: this decline reason means SASSA has picked up that you are eligible to receive UIF and therefore cannot receive the SRD Grant.
gov_payroll_registered: this decline reason means SASSA has picked up that you are employed within a government institution.
age_outside_range: this decline reason means SASSA has picked up that you are not within the correct age range to apply for the SRD grant.
referred_linked_risk_mobile: this decline reason means SASSA has picked up that your cellphone number has been linked to fraudulent activity.
referred_safps: this decline reason means SASSA has picked up that you have been accused of fraud with the South Africa Fraud Prevention Services.
When is the SRD Grant paid?
There is no set date for the SRD grant to be paid each month - the date is different for each applicants, based on when SASSA has completed the verification checks for the month.
Previously, SRD grants were paid by the South African Post Office (SAPO) and were paid based on the candidates ID numbers, but this is no longer the case.