The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) offers many social grants to South Africans who need financial assistance including the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) R350 grant which provides financial support to more than 10 million South Africans every month.
The other grants Sassa offers include Older Persons Grant, Disability Grant, and Child Support Grant.
So will you qualify for the R350 SRD grant if you already receive other grants from Sassa?
The answer is yes you will, however the only grants you are able to receive along with the SRD grant is the child support grant, foster child grant, or care dependency grant if you do not have any other income.
Sassa extended the SRD grant to unemployed individuals who receive the child support grant on behalf of the child. The agency says that the main reason for the child support grant is for the maintenance of the child's health as well as to ensure the child attends and completes their schooling.
In order to qualify for the R350 SRD grant you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a South African Citizen, Permanent Resident or Refugee registered on the Home Affairs database.
- The grant is also open to persons who are holders of special permits under the Special Angolan Dispensation, the Lesotho Exemption Permit dispensation and the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Dispensation, and asylum seekers whose section 22 permits or visas are valid or were valid on 15 March 2020;
- Currently residing within the borders of the Republic of South Africa;
- Above the age of 18 and below the age of 60;
- Unemployed;
- Not receiving any social grant in respect of himself or herself;
- Not receiving an unemployment insurance benefit and does not qualify to receive an unemployment insurance benefit;
- Not receiving a stipend from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and other financial aid;
- Not receiving any other government COVID-19 response support; and
- Not a resident in a government funded or subsidised institution.
The social grants provided by Sassa cater to different needs of the beneficiaries and the grant they receive is based on their circumstances.
"We would like to reiterate that only those who meet the criteria and have no financial support from any source should apply for this grant." Sassa said about the R350 grant.
If you receive a Sassa grant that is not a child support grant and try to apply for the R350 grant, your application will be rejected. Your application status will read "Existing_sassa_grant”.
For more information on Sassa, click here.
