Increase SRD from R350 to R624: Civil Society Demands. The current cycle of COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant regulations has left more people out as the qualifying criteria has changed. One such rule is that to qualify for the SRD Grant, one must not be receiving any income more than R350 per month. Previously it has been R595 when the grant was first established.
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Civil Society Movement Approach
The civil society movements are against the restriction as it lefts more people not qualifying for the grant. Black Sash is one of the organisations against this restriction. Other than the COVID-19 grant increase demand, they are also pushing for the Basic Income Grant to be established and increases for all the grants.
Black Sash Demands
The following are demands listed on Black Sash website:
From R350 to R624
- Immediately increase the reinstated Covid-19 SRD grant to at least the Food Poverty Line, currently R624 until social assistance for the unemployed is made permanent
Permanent Income Support
- Implement permanent income support for those aged 18 to 59 years with little to no income, valued at the upper-bound poverty line, currently R1 335 per month. Unemployed Caregivers, who receive the Child Support Grant, must also qualify;
Other Grant Increases
- Make the Covid-19 increases of R250 per month permanent for all grants
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
- Ensures that refugees, permanent residents, asylum seekers and migrant workers with special permits also qualify and receive their grant; and
Basic Income Grant
- Work towards a universal basic income for all!
Mean while, The Social Development Minister has made proposal that people earning up to R634 per month should qualify for R350 SRD Grant. The current regulations for the SRD Grant has left out a lot of people not qualifying to get the grant as the threshold to qualify for the grant has been reduced to R350.
Question time
What do you think about the increase demands by the civil society movement? Comment below and we will try to find answers for you queries.
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Thanks for the increase, but there’s this thing that to qualify for the srd grant you should be not receiving any income from the government.unisa students get R290 monthly allowance other than the book allowance, and the srd grant is/was R350. They also deserve an increase atleast R1000 per month because education is stressful too , they should get a stress reliever.
As a results of government failure to prioritise education, the students should cancel learning and go for the srd grant to maintain a living, that university is nolonger the same as before, there’s so much youth there and they deserve better allowance as any other institutions.
I have also been decliened and because off friends helping me to pay my rent and sassa does not care what we live on you have to declair you dont have a i come and you do that it is tough to get a job in this broken country and they put people in charge of deciding to keep R350 from people but they sit on their jobs and earn fat salaries but that cool we can suffer its our problem they smile all the way to the atm cause they have the right to decide on other peoples futures what a grate and fair country we suffer in
The money that come in my account is to pay rent my family help me with it so I must sleep on the street because they also sell the RDP to us I’m a born south African 55years old with no hous stop making your own rules and give us wat we need
approved but not payment date of June why
That money is not enough this government cannot supply work we are struggling just to keep our stomachs full can’t do anything but wait and see where this government is going so Jah increase SRD grant and extend until government can provide work
Yes we are all poor people, I’ve got emphysema, (long cancer) please
Just reply if I qualify or not.
I can’t cope with the little money I received currently and constantly I must received medicine which the clinics do not have in store. Please I asked humbly please assist me.
Would u at parliament survive on 350 a month to pay for ur fuel, rent, food and I can go on but even with ur propasalof 1350 one will never survive but thank u for caring but on my side this money is to less compared to way people earn at parliament compare a over 20 000 salery to 350 grant
They stop my350 its not fair i only het 700 for maintanance money this goverment is not ok
I was selling Tc products so my customers paid me through my account so now I’m declined and I’m no longer selling so it’s not fair as I don’t have an income
Please why people that receive child grand suddenly decline for srd r350 relieve since April but we received since January so not fair child grand is really a help but so not enough think about it please.
South Africa is going to be broke and collapse like Sri Lanka, why should tax payers pay for refugees and asylum seekers, permit holders the UN should take care of them!!
I think sassa should consider approving all the people who qualified on the previous circle , unemployed people are really suffering, I for one doesn’t work and don’t have any source of income used to live on my mother’s old age grant and now she passed on , if it wasn’t for this R350 I was going to suffer a lot .
I agree with u why should taxpayers pay for refugees and asylum seekers to get grant they not our responsibility.
I am a 37year old lady got 4 kids I need to feed them and they also need to be warm.sometimes I hustle from gambling even thou I know gambling is not right by luck got something for that month maybe 1000 rand so am I going to suffer for that.I’m not working is that fair for me Assad not checking where that money comes from.
Hi I am Amanda Verwey.Iam 40 years old 3 boys with no income 3 years unemployed no work.I start now this years with health problem with fits.
I am Amanda Verwey i am 40 years old with 3 boys and unemployed.I start with health problem with fits.Please help me with that R350 money.I am need that money to pay my 2 boys school fees and that money help with food.Please help me thank you.I did reapply i am still waiting for 2 month money and I dont now what is wrong.Thank you Amanda
I never got pay
My grant For June declined.How do I rectify it.Thank you.Help please..
Iwas declined because am receiving child support grant
Child support is a little money I only buy pamper and then it’s gone this is not not fair
I think is not good i mean even if I earn thousand rand a month is still not enough since am a single mom..things are so expensive..will appreciate this grant a lot.
It is a good idea but for some of us who hardly work and only receive child support grant only then sassa will tell you that you have source of income is not fair at all because that money is not enough my child neither am I….So please fix this thing because really is hard to feed yourself and your kids because things are very expensive so we really need these R350.00 because it helps us a lot especially we as youth who can’t find jobs….
Yes I agree with the proposal because we are not work and we can’t found job this R350 do a lot to us especially to us the householders
I was declined from srd great
As I have none income and friends are supporting me for now.. I’m disable for working at all.Thats why I’m asking for help from my Government.I’m 58 years old now.
Well, this increase from R350.00 to R624.00 will be a future life long burden not only to the Government but also to the entire recipients at large. For better improvement, look at it from this direction of talk or advice and encourage creation of employments of SMME more, as this will draw more Citizens on sustainability than reliance on Governmement’ handout or assistances. This be monitored seriously against both corruption and nepotism, it should be undertaken as the equal distribution nationwide in accordance of Provences’s villages and rural areas and not to mean Urban and Locations residents should not be considered too, the aim is to discourage dependency and encourage work to earn living.
I think this is a good idea, people are suffering out there without an income. So government must provide for those who are in need.
I always ask myself where did the government get this money to pay people for free without moving a finger . Especially men misuse the money ,the are drunk ,buy drugs and cause violence
So are their any plans to change this matter Cause I believe men must work to deserve that kind money .And when will this come to and end the R350 . For 3 years we never received an increase , but look what this government do
I’m confused about this government of this country
I truely think this government should stop playing games with peoples lives and pay what they are promising.
Ive been unemployed for over 3 years and had part time work to support myself. Look out on the streets and see how many people are homeless. I think this government should maybe look at whats happening around them .
My status has been saying reffered for almost 3weeks now