The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant functionally represents a lifeblood for 18 to 59-year-old citizens of South Africa unable to support themselves at that age. The grant was established so that unemployed individuals who qualify financially and are in dire need of support can receive assistance once a month with a direct payment of R370. Here is everything you need to know about the qualification criteria and applying.
Who Should Apply for the 370-SRD Grant?
To qualify for the decentralized 370-SRD grant, you must be within the ages of 18 and 59 and need to be either a South African citizen, a permanent resident, or a registered refugee or asylum seeker legally docuamented under the South African law.
An applicant’s income must be below R624 monthly, and relevant to the SRD specifically, the applicant should be unemployed. The primary ground for disqualification for this grant is if one qualifies for another form of government support, either in the form of another SASSA grant or receiving aid out of UIF or NSFAS.
Anyone who has employment, whether part time or full time, in a government institution is also excluded from consideration for this SRD R370 grant. SASSA will conduct a means test on the candidate, who must prove financial need; that simply means the grant is for people in actual need.
How to Apply for the Grant
The application for the R370 grant is an entirely simple online affair. Start by visiting the official SASSA SRD website. Choose whether you are applying as a South African ID holder or asylum-seeker or permit holder.
Enter your mobile number to be verified by a one-time pin (OTP). Once verified, you will continue with the application form, which comprises an ID number, full names, and banking particulars. All information provided must be checked before submitting the application, ensuring the correctness of contact particulars and bank details in order to avoid unnecessary delays or complications.
Things to Know After Applying
Thereafter, after filling in the application, you should check your application status from time to time by going to the SASSA SRD website. This will enable you to monitor whether your application is approved, is still being processed, or has been declined. In the event of rejection, never lose hope; an official appeal process is in place, and you have all the rights to request reconsideration on the SASSA platform.
However, the applicant needs to keep in mind that the measures instated by SASSA to curb fraud and abuse are by now inflexible; provide any information that is less than the full truth and hurts the success of your application. The SRD grant will be considered a temporary measure which may be reviewed and potentially discontinued by the government at any time.
In Conclusion
This grant indeed has short-life-saving power for many South Africans facing various financial crises. Perhaps it might be worthwhile to apply if you think you qualify. With all proper documentation and correct information, you may receive this money in time to assist you through trying times.