People who qualify for the Social Relief of Distress grant may register for Sassa R350 grant or make application to be considered for the grant. Almost 10 million people are receiving the SRD Grant in South Africa.
The grant was introduced back in 2020 as a measure to assist those impacted by the lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19. At the time, as many people were unable to go to work, the government had to introduce this social welfare programme. When the lockdown and the state of disaster were lifted, the South African Government decided to continue offering the R350 Grant to the needy people. However, the new threshold was introduced.
Initially, the grant used to consider people who were receiving at least monthly income of below R500 to be eligible for the grant. They then increased the amount to R624 which is considered the poverty line in South Africa.
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How Do I Know if I Qualify for R350 Grant?
Before you make your application with Sassa, make sure that you are eligible, see the criteria below:
You qualify to apply for the R350 grant if you are:
a) A South African Citizen, Permanent Resident or Refugee registered on the Home Affairs database and 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;
b) Currently residing within the borders of the Republic of South Africa;
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c) Above the age of 18 and below the age of 60;
d) Unemployed;
e) Not receiving any social grant in respect of him or herself;
f) Not receiving an unemployment insurance benefit and does not qualify to receive an unemployment insurance benefit;
g) Not receiving a stipend from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and other financial aid;
h) Not receiving any other government COVID-19 response support;
i) Not a resident in a government funded or subsidized institution.
So How to Register for Sassa R350 Grant
To apply for the R350 grant or the Social Relief of Distress Grant administered by the South African Social Security Agency you have to follow these steps:
How to Apply for R350 Grant on WhatsApp [Step by Step]
The following are steps to follow in order to apply for R350 grant on WhatsApp:
Step 1: Save this number on your phone, (+27) 082 046 8553
Step 2: Send the word “Sassa” via WhatsApp to the number you just saved. You will receive a welcome message with 4 options to choose from for your next reply.
Step 3: Reply with the word “SRD” on the message received.
Step 4: The next message will ask you if you are applying for yourself or for someone else. Reply with either 1 or 2 as per what is applicable to you.
Step 5: Reply the next message with your full names.
Step 6: Reply with your surname.
Step 7: Now, you will receive a message with a link where you have to click it and read the terms and conditions. After reading the terms and conditions, go back to WhatsApp and continue with the application. You have to reply with “Yes” to accept the terms and conditions.
Step 8: You will now be required to reply with your home address residential address or drop a pin location on your WhatsApp if you are at your home.
Step 9: Select whether you are a SA Citizen, Permanent resident or a Refugee by replying with an appropriate option applicable to you.
Step 10: You will get another message with a reference number, a onetime pin (OTP) and a link. Click that link within 2 hours and complete your application either on GovChat or the SRD website.
Those are the steps you need to follow in order to apply for R350 grant on WhatsApp.
You may also apply online by goin to the SRD website. See more details here.
