Who qualifies for the SRD grant
On this page (4 sections)
You qualify for the R370 SRD grant if you are aged 18–60, live in South Africa, are unemployed, have less than R624 a month in income or financial support, and receive no UIF, no NSFAS funding and no other SASSA grant for yourself. Eligibility is re-checked every month.
The full checklist
- Age: 18 up to the month you turn 60 (from 60, apply for the Older Persons Grant instead — it pays about six times more).
- Residence: living in South Africa. You do not need a fixed address.
- Status: South African citizen, permanent resident, refugee, asylum seeker, or special-permit holder — refugee/asylum specifics.
- Income: less than R624 per month entering your bank account or otherwise available to you — how the means test works.
- No other support: not receiving UIF payments, NSFAS funding, or another SASSA grant for yourself.
- Not state-funded care: not in a state institution (e.g. correctional facility) fully maintained by the state.
Common edge cases
| Situation | Do you qualify? |
|---|---|
| Piece work / informal income under R624 in a month | Yes, for that month — the test is monthly |
| Spouse or partner earns a salary | Yes, if your own means are under R624 — the test is individual |
| Receiving CSG for your child | Yes — see the exception above |
| On NSFAS but allowances stopped | Only once NSFAS's records show funding ended — see the fix |
| Turned 60 this year | SRD ends; apply for the Older Persons Grant |
| No bank account | Yes — you can be paid via other methods |
Frequently asked questions
Is there an asset test for SRD?
No — unlike the permanent grants, SRD tests only monthly income/means, not assets. Owning a phone, furniture or even a car does not disqualify you.
Do I qualify if I live with family who support me?
Regular money from family that exceeds R624/month into your account will fail the means test for that month. Support in kind (food, housing) is not counted.
I'm 17, turning 18 soon. When can I apply?
From the month you turn 18. Until then, your caregiver can receive the Child Support Grant for you.
Verified information
- Responsible body
- South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
- Official source
- sassa.gov.za
- Status
- Confirmed, some figures pending
- Date verified
- Confidence
- High confidence
Process and eligibility rules confirmed against official sources. Amounts marked * are widely reported 2026 figures still being traced to the Government Gazette.
SA Benefits is independent and not affiliated with SASSA or government. Editorial guidance on this page is clearly separated from official information — see how we verify.
What's changed on this page (1)
First published and checked against official sources. Future changes to figures, deadlines or processes will be listed here rather than silently edited.
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