Why Is My SRD R370 Application Still Pending?

“Pending” means SASSA has not finished assessing a month of your SRD application. It is not a decline. Every month, SASSA runs your ID number against Home Affairs, bank records, SARS, UIF, NSFAS and the government payroll before deciding, and some of these checks come back later than others.

Common reasons a month stays pending

• The monthly checks are still running. This is the usual reason, especially early in the month.
• Your details do not match. A spelling difference between your application and your ID can hold up verification.
• Identity verification is outstanding. If SASSA asked you to complete a biometric check and you have not, the month waits.
• Your phone number changed. If the number is no longer in your name, you may miss the messages SASSA sends.

What you can do

1. Check your status on srd.sassa.gov.za once a week rather than daily.
2. Make sure your names and ID number match your ID exactly.
3. Complete any identity verification SASSA has asked for.
4. Confirm your cellphone number is registered in your name. If you changed numbers, read how to change your phone number with SASSA.
5. If a month is still pending after the month has ended, call 0800 60 10 11.

Pending months often change straight to approved or declined near the end of the month, when SASSA finalises that cycle.

What not to do while you wait

• Do not submit a new application. It does not speed things up and can cause a mismatch with your existing one.
• Do not pay anyone who promises to “unlock” a pending status. Only SASSA can change it, and it is free.
• Do not change your banking details unless they are actually wrong, because every change has to be verified again.

Pending for several months?

If more than one month in a row stays pending, the problem is usually a verification that cannot complete, such as an ID that does not match Home Affairs records or an unfinished biometric check. Sort out the ID record first, then call SASSA so that the application can be looked at.

Frequently asked questions