The Livelihoods Support Grant: what we actually know
On this page (6 sections)
The Livelihoods Support Grant is government's planned successor to the R370 SRD grant — a redesign that links income support to work-seeking and livelihood activity. As of July 2026, it is a policy in development, not a grant you can apply for. Nothing changes for current SRD recipients yet: keep your application active and ignore anyone claiming to register you.
The confirmed timeline
| When | What | Status |
|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | Cabinet considers a draft policy for public comment | Awaiting outcome — watch updates |
| October 2026 (MTBPS) | Detailed structure and funding expected | Scheduled |
| March 2027 | Final version to Cabinet; SRD funding currently runs to this date | Scheduled |
What 'work-linked' is expected to mean
Official statements describe connecting the grant to job-seeking support, training and livelihood activity — building on the SRD recipient base rather than replacing it overnight. What is not yet known: the amount, whether work-seeking is a condition or an add-on, eligibility rules, and transition arrangements for the millions on SRD. We will state each of these only when officially confirmed — never from leaks or speculation (our policy).
What SRD recipients should do now
- Keep your SRD application active and details current — a live, verified application is the most likely on-ramp to any successor. Status check · phone · banking.
- Fix outstanding declines now — wrongly-declined months are appealable today (appeal guide); nobody knows how historic records feed the new system.
- Ignore 'registration' offers — see the scam warning above.
- Check what else you can claim — the benefits checker covers support that exists regardless of what happens in 2027.
What happens to the R370?
SRD is funded to March 2027. Government's stated intent is transition, not termination — but the mechanics are exactly what the August draft and October MTBPS should answer. This page and the companion pieces (what changes for SRD recipients and the timeline tracker, both arriving in days) will carry each confirmed detail as it lands.
Frequently asked questions
Will the amount stay R370?
Unknown — no amount has been announced. Treat any number you read as speculation until it appears in official documents; we'll publish it the day it does.
Will I have to prove I'm looking for work?
The design direction links support to work-seeking, but whether as a hard condition is exactly what the public-comment draft should reveal.
Should I wait for the new grant instead of applying for SRD?
No — apply for SRD now. It pays today, and an active record can only help in any transition.
Verified information
- Responsible body
- Department of Social Development / National Treasury
- Official source
- dsd.gov.za
- Status
- Awaiting official confirmation
- Date verified
- Confidence
- Developing — policy in progress
Policy in development. Only officially announced milestones are published here — no amounts or rules have been confirmed.
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 (2)
Reviewed ahead of the August Cabinet draft. No amount, eligibility rule or application process has been officially announced — anything stated elsewhere is speculation, and this page will only carry confirmed milestones.
Published with the officially signalled timeline: August 2026 Cabinet draft for public comment, October 2026 MTBPS detail, March 2027 final version.
Site-wide corrections are logged publicly in the corrections register.
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