VerifiedUpdated September 2026. The SRD grant is still paying R370 a month and has been extended to 31 March 2027. Here is what has changed recently and what to watch for.
Extended to March 2027 at R370
The February 2026 Budget kept the Social Relief of Distress grant going for another year, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, with no increase. The amount has been R370 since April 2024, when it rose from the original R350.
Changes may be announced later in 2026
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said any changes to the SRD grant would be set out in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement later in 2026. Government has been exploring linking the grant more closely to job and skills opportunities. Until an announcement, the current rules apply.
The R624 means test is still applied
In January 2025 the Gauteng High Court found the fixed R624 income threshold, and parts of how income is defined, unconstitutional. Government appealed, and SASSA continues to use the R624 threshold while that is resolved.
Stricter checks on beneficiaries
SASSA has stepped up checks against other government and credit bureau databases, flagging hundreds of thousands of grants for review and cancelling tens of thousands, and new applicants now go through biometric identity verification. Keep your details accurate and respond to any review request.
What has not changed
- You apply and check status at srd.sassa.gov.za.
- Declined months can be appealed within 90 days at srd.dsd.gov.za/appeals.
- Approved SRD months are still paid in batches in the second half of the month.
For payment dates of all grants, see our 2026/27 payment calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Will the SRD grant increase in 2026?
No increase was announced in the February 2026 Budget, which kept the grant at R370 until March 2027. Any changes are expected in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement.
Is the SRD grant ending?
It has been extended to 31 March 2027. What happens after that has not been announced yet.