The South African social security agency, SASSA, is the administration that provides the scheme of funding to the low-income and unemployed South African nationals under the form of social relief of distress (SRD) grant. Originally implemented as a COVID-19 relief in 2020 the SRD grant, which now amounts to R370 per month, is still benefiting millions of people in 2026.
It is a payment, based on the scheme of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) that is paid by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). SRD is to be paid at R370 a month. Having been established to support the unemployed and low-income earners and citizens who are not enjoying other state sources of financial support like the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), the SRD grant is set to benefit unemployment benefits of almost 12 million citizens.
SASSA SRD Payment February 2026
The SASSA Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant is a monthly monetary aid program aimed at helping South African citizens, long-term residents and refugees, who lack any income or financial resources to afford basic needs. The grant was launched in May 2020 to deal with economic challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but has since reached an extended lifetime until 2026 and beyond, with a budget allocation of R422.3 billion allocated in social grants in 20262027, as announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
SASSA SRD Payment February 2026 Eligibility Criteria
In order to receive the SASSA SRD Payment, one has to be subjected to rigorous eligibility criteria, which are applicable with the means test and verified against government databases (e.g., Home Affairs, UIF). The detailed criteria are listed as below:
1. Nationality and Residency
The applicants have to be South African citizens, permanent residents, or hold valid documentation as registered refugees/special permit with the department of home affairs. You need to be a South teenager. People that are temporary or permanual residents of government-funded organizations (e.g. subsidized care institutions) are not eligible.
2. Age Requirements
The applicants have to be between the ages of 18 and 59 years upon applying. Others who are above 60 can receive other SASSA SRD Payments, including Older Persons Grant (R2,080/month), but they can also receive the SRD grant in case they start receiving less than the threshold and other requirements are met.
3. Income Threshold
The maximum your gross monthly earnings should be is R624 as identified as per the means test of SASSA. Balance of your bank account should not be more than R624 by the time you apply. SASSA confirms this by bank statements and financial records. The applicants should not receive regular earnings through work, businesses and other means. SASSA cannot approve an application where their level of income surpasses the threshold, so, they reject the application with a status of Means Income Source Identified.
4. Employment Status
The SASSA SRD Payment targets mostly people who are unemployed or have low incomes that they can afford to live on below the basic needs. Other government grants (such as Child Support Grant, Disability Grant) or financial assistance, such as UIF or NSFAS are not allowed to you. Exception can be offered by the guardians who obtain child support grants on behalf of children.
5. Additional Conditions
The SRD program unlike other grants does not mandate the applicants to have dependents, although the inclusion of information about the children below the age of 18 in your household can be of advantage in making the application. Eligibility needs to be reaffirmed after every 3 months by the beneficiaries. Not a usual part of the SRD grant, but medical reports can be asked in case of any claim of financial hardship because of health problems.
Documents Required for SASSA SRD Payment February 2026
SASSA asks you to provide certain documents to confirm that you are eligible. These should be done in advance so that application becomes a smooth process. retain soft copies to use with online applications or carry original/copies of the same to submit in person.
The viable South African ID-card/smart ID, bar-coded (13-digit ID number). In the case of refugees, they have to have a valid asylum seeker permit or special permit. Utility bill, your lease agreement, or affidavit of your present address. Stamped bank statement or pass book (no more than 3 months old) in your name indicating your account.
The balance in the account shall not surpass R624. Recent payslips, affidavit of unemployment or a letter of an employer (where applicable) to prove that his or her income is less than R624/month. Birth certificate of children in your custody aged below 18 in order to substantiate your application. A recent medical report (not older than 3 months old) in case it states monetary distress due to medical problems. In case registered with SARS, furnish tax information in order to confirm income status.
SASSA SRD Payment February 2026 Online Application Process
SASSA also provides various forms of application to render the SRD grant accessible such as online application, WhatsApp, USSD, and face-to-face. The steps that should be used to apply are as below:
See the official site of SASSA SRD (srd.sassa.gov.za). Choose your type of application (South African ID, asylum seeker or special permit holder). Enter your mobile phone number to get an OTP. Enter OTP and fill in the application. Add necessary papers (e.g., ID, evidence of residence, bank statement, etc.). Accepting the terms and conditions, submit your application. Get an SMS/ email notification with a reference number to check on the status of your application.
SASSA SRD Payment Dates February 2026
The payment schedule issued by SASSA at the start of each month, however, certain SRD grant payments dates are different based on the processing involved by financial banks and verification of eligibility. The following is the information on the payment dates in a table form:
| Grant Type | Payment Dates |
| Older Persons Grant | February 3, 2026 |
| Disability Grant | February 4, 2026 |
| Child Support Grant | February 5, 2026 |
| SRD R370 Grant | Between 24-28 February, 2026 |
The SASSA SRD 2026 Payment in February is still a crucial support tool, which offers vital relief because the people of South Africans are experiencing the increase of living standards and unemployment issues. Regardless of whether it is a application or payment status, by being alerted by official SASSA, the ideal platform to be informed is the best way of ensuring payments are received at the right time and to prevent scams.
Does the SRD grant become future-extended to 2026?
Whether the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant by March 2027 and beyond is possible, or not, is yet to be decided. National Treasury has also ascertained that there are no set deadlines on when any proposals can be finalised on what should replace R370/per month grant.
Is the SASSA grant going up in 2025 26?
Most grants are going to rise in October 2025, with a bigger rise in April 2025. The revised values of some of the critical grants have been shown below: Old-Age Grant (60 74 years): R2,310 to 2,320. Old-Age Grant (75 years and above): Increases by R2,330 to R2,340.
Is the SRD grant permanent?
Firstly, the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, which was initially introduced back in time of Covid-19, is nearly prolonged until the end of March 2026.