Searching for an “R350 status check” when you have never applied will not get you far: there is no status until SASSA has an application from you. The grant people still call R350 is officially SASSA’s Social Relief of Distress grant, or SRD. It pays R370 a month and is funded until 31 March 2027. This page covers whether you qualify and how to apply for the first time.
Do you qualify? Check before you apply
According to a SASSA statement of 19 January 2026, the eligibility rules are unchanged. You need to be:
- aged 18 or older, but younger than 60;
- South African by citizenship or permanent residence, a recognised refugee, the holder of a special Angolan, Lesotho (LEP) or Zimbabwean (ZEP) permit, or an asylum seeker whose section 22 permit is still valid;
- registered on the Home Affairs database and living in South Africa;
- not living in a state-funded institution such as a prison;
- not receiving another social grant for yourself;
- not refusing reasonable offers of work or training without good cause; and
- under the means test, described below.
Collecting a child support grant as a parent does not by itself disqualify you: that money belongs to your child’s grant, not to one in your own name.
The R624 income limit
Money coming into your accounts must not exceed R624 a month, the food poverty line. SASSA checks bank data every month, and also looks for a UIF claim, NSFAS funding, a SARS tax record or a government salary in your name. A January 2025 Gauteng High Court ruling struck at the R624 limit, yet government took that ruling on appeal. Judgment at the SCA was still reserved as October 2026 began, which keeps R624 in force for now.
What to have in hand
- Your 13-digit ID number, or your permit or asylum-seeker file number.
- A cellphone you will keep. SASSA sends PINs and verification links to this number, and you will need it every time you check your status.
- An active bank account in your own name, if you want bank payment. SASSA will not pay into anyone else’s account.
- A phone camera you can use for a clear selfie in good light, for the facial check.
Applying, step by step
- Open srd.sassa.gov.za by typing the address in full. Do not follow links shared on social media. Applying is online only and costs nothing.
- Choose the application option that matches your document: South African ID, or asylum seeker or special permit holder.
- Enter your cellphone number and confirm it with the SMS PIN SASSA sends.
- Fill in your personal details exactly as they appear on your ID, then answer the questions about income and other support honestly.
- Give consent for SASSA to verify your details with Home Affairs, SARS, UIF, banks and other databases. Without it, SASSA cannot assess you.
- Choose how you want to be paid: your own bank account, or a cash option if the site offers one.
- Submit, and save any reference the site gives you, including your application ID. You will need that ID later if you change your phone number.
Right after you submit
Expect two things. First, a facial verification link by SMS, usually within a day or two: every new SRD applicant must pass this selfie check against the Home Affairs photo before approval. Second, a “pending” status while SASSA checks you against the various databases. Pending is normal, and applying again will not speed it up.
From here, tracking your new application explains each stage until the first outcome. Once you are in the system, SASSA reassesses you every month; what can change between months is explained in our guide to monthly SRD reassessment. If you are curious why everyone still says R350, the R350 to R370 history explains it.
Can I apply at a SASSA office instead?
SRD applications are online only. SASSA offices can still help if the facial check keeps failing, and staff can help with access to the website. Call 0800 60 10 11 first to avoid a wasted trip.