Everything you need to know about the SRD R370 grant in 2026: extension to 2027, Budget changes, fraud crackdowns, eKYC requirements, April grant increases, and the future Basic Income Grant.
The most important changes affecting your SRD R370 grant right now.
The latest developments this month, updated 19 March 2026.
March 2026 SRD R370 payments are expected between 20–28 March, with most beneficiaries seeing funds from 23 March onward. Permanent grants were paid on schedule (Old Age 3 March, Disability 4 March, Children 5 March). No major delays have been reported this cycle. Check your individual payday at srd.sassa.gov.za.
Reports from Business Day (11 March 2026) indicate SASSA's fraud detection system is incorrectly flagging legitimate beneficiaries, causing unjustified payment suspensions. If your grant was suddenly suspended and you have not committed fraud, check your status at srd.sassa.gov.za and file an appeal. Do not pay any "agent" to fix your status.
On 11 March 2026, SASSA presented a briefing to Parliament about deteriorating office conditions across the country. Many offices have frequent system outages, OHS violations, and operate from run-down leased buildings. Port Elizabeth offices were reported offline for up to two weeks. R14 million has been allocated for 2026/27 to assess and upgrade accommodation. If your local office is down, try the online portal or WhatsApp (082 046 8553).
The draft SRD extension regulations (April 2026–March 2027) completed their 21-day public comment period in early March. The final regulations must be gazetted before 31 March 2026 to ensure uninterrupted SRD payments from April. The extension itself is not in doubt — it was confirmed in both the SONA and Budget Speech.
Four SASSA officials arrested in a R4.9 million fraud case (late February), and five officials dismissed in connection with a R260 million fraud scandal at the Johannesburg office. The Johannesburg SASSA office has reopened after being closed since September 2025 for an internal controls overhaul following the fraud dismissals.
The SA Reserve Bank has extended the Postbank Gold-to-Black card migration deadline to 31 December 2026. Postbank missed the original March 2025 deadline. Failure to complete migration could see Postbank lose its place in the National Payment System. If you still have a Gold Card, swap it at a Post Office or switch to a personal bank account (recommended).
Since the April 2024 system update, SASSA no longer requires quarterly reconfirmation for most beneficiaries. Eligibility is now reviewed automatically each month using existing data. However, some beneficiaries may still receive specific reconfirmation requests — these must be completed via srd.sassa.gov.za.
The grant continues for another year, but at the same frozen amount.
President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed the SRD grant extension during the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA). The key details:
What this means for you: If you're currently receiving the SRD grant, your payments will continue past March 2026 without needing to reapply. SASSA now reviews eligibility automatically each month (quarterly reconfirmation is no longer required for most beneficiaries). If you've been declined, you can still apply each month.
| Period | Amount | Budget | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2020 – Apr 2021 | R350 | R10.5 billion | Original COVID-19 emergency grant |
| Aug 2021 – Mar 2022 | R350 | R26.7 billion | First extension after civil unrest |
| Apr 2022 – Mar 2023 | R350 | R44 billion | Extended due to economic conditions |
| Apr 2023 – Mar 2024 | R350 | R36 billion | Continued as permanent replacement delayed |
| Apr 2024 – Mar 2025 | R370 | R35.2 billion | First increase from R350 to R370 |
| Apr 2025 – Mar 2026 | R370 | R35.2 billion | No increase despite inflation |
| Apr 2026 – Mar 2027 | R370 | R36.4 billion | Current extension — confirmed |
Most grants increase from 1 April 2026, but the SRD is excluded.
| Grant Type | Current (Mar 2026) | New (Apr 2026) | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Age Grant (under 75) | R2,320 | R2,400 | +R80 |
| Old Age Grant (75+) | R2,340 | R2,420 | +R80 |
| Disability Grant | R2,320 | R2,400 | +R80 |
| War Veterans Grant | R2,340 | R2,420 | +R80 |
| Foster Child Grant | R1,180 | R1,290 | +R110 |
| Care Dependency Grant | R2,320 | R2,400 | +R80 |
| Child Support Grant | R560 | R580 | +R20 |
| SRD Grant (R370) | R370 | R370 | No change |
Why no SRD increase? National Treasury views the SRD as a temporary emergency measure, not a permanent grant. The R370 amount has not been adjusted for inflation since April 2024. The food poverty line is R760/month, meaning the grant covers less than half of minimum food needs.
A court ruled the fixed threshold unconstitutional, but government is appealing.
In January 2025, the Pretoria High Court ruled that the fixed R624 means test threshold is unconstitutional and invalid. The court ordered the government to:
However, Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe is appealing the court order. Until the appeal is resolved, the threshold remains at R624.
Current SRD income threshold
You must earn less than this to qualify
Food Poverty Line (Stats SA)
Minimum cost to avoid hunger
Actual SRD payment
Covers ~49% of food poverty line
Common confusion: Some people think R624 is the new grant amount — it is not. R370 is what you receive. R624 is the income limit for eligibility. If you earn even R1 above R624/month (from any source including informal work), you do not qualify.
Major verification drive has cancelled tens of thousands of fraudulent grants.
SASSA has significantly stepped up fraud detection as a condition of the continued SRD funding:
SASSA is targeting R341 million in fraud reduction for 2026, with R2 billion projected savings in 2026/27 from improved verification systems. In recent enforcement actions, four officials were arrested in a R4.9 million fraud case, and five officials were dismissed in connection with a R260 million fraud scandal at the Johannesburg office.
Grant suspended during fraud review? Reports from March 2026 confirm SASSA's fraud detection system is incorrectly flagging some legitimate beneficiaries. If your grant was paused, check your status at srd.sassa.gov.za and file an appeal with supporting documents. Do NOT contact unofficial "agents" who offer to fix your status — these are scammers. Full fraud prevention guide →
Mandatory since September 2025 for all SRD applicants and beneficiaries.
Electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) is a biometric verification process that confirms your identity using either a fingerprint scan or facial recognition (selfie). This replaced the old OTP-only verification system.
Scam Warning: SASSA has confirmed that biometric capture is NEVER done over the phone, by unofficial agents, or outside of official SASSA offices. If someone contacts you claiming they need your biometrics or a selfie for "SASSA verification", it is a scam. Report SASSA scams →
What replaces the SRD when it eventually ends? Here's what we know.
The Department of Social Development is designing a permanent Basic Income Support (BIS) grant to eventually replace the temporary SRD. Key details from public statements:
South Africa has approximately 28 million grant recipients but only 7 million income taxpayers. Any permanent BIS grant would need a new revenue source or major spending reprioritization. This is the primary reason for the delays.
What this means for you: The SRD grant at R370 is confirmed through March 2027. Beyond that, the future is uncertain. Continue checking your status, reconfirming every 3 months, and keeping your details up to date. If a new grant system is introduced, SASSA will communicate the transition process.
These scams are currently active. Full fraud prevention guide →
Messages on WhatsApp and social media claim a new R700 grant is open for applications with links to unofficial websites. This is completely false. SASSA has confirmed no R700 grant exists. The SRD remains at R370. This scam has been circulating since February 2026 and is still active.
A new WhatsApp scam reported on 4 March 2026 sends messages requesting personal information or links to "verify" your grant status. These harvest ID numbers and banking details. SASSA never sends WhatsApp messages asking for your banking details or ID number. The only official WhatsApp number is 082 046 8553.
Scammers are posing as SASSA officials visiting homes to collect Postbank card and PIN details. SASSA and Postbank confirmed they never send officials to collect cards or PINs at your home. If someone arrives at your door claiming to be from SASSA, do not hand over your card or share any details. Report them to SAPS.
A viral video claims all SRD beneficiaries must complete a "mass re-registration" or lose their grants. SASSA has confirmed there is no mass re-registration. Your grant continues automatically. Only respond to official communications from srd.sassa.gov.za.
Websites mimicking the official SRD portal harvest your ID numbers, banking details, and passwords. Only use srd.sassa.gov.za — check the URL carefully before entering any information.
Scammers call or message claiming they need your biometric data (selfie or fingerprint) for SASSA verification. SASSA never collects biometrics over the phone or through unofficial agents. Only complete eKYC at srd.sassa.gov.za or at official SASSA offices.
Full payment schedule with countdown →
| Month | SRD Payment Window | Status |
|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | 24–29 October | Paid |
| November 2025 | 24–30 November | Paid |
| December 2025 | 19–24 December | Paid |
| January 2026 | 23–28 January | Paid |
| February 2026 | 20–25 February | Paid |
| March 2026 | 24–30 March | Upcoming |
No. The widely shared claim about a R700 grant is a scam. The SRD remains at R370 with no increase announced. Messages claiming a new R700 grant is available link to fake websites that steal your personal information. Only trust information from official SASSA channels.
This is uncertain. The government is developing a permanent Basic Income Support grant, but no implementation date has been set. Budget projections show only R1.7 billion allocated for 2027/28 (compared to R36.4 billion for 2026/27), suggesting either a much smaller programme or another last-minute extension. We'll update this page as information becomes available.
No. If you're currently receiving the SRD grant, your payments will continue automatically past March 2026. Keep reconfirming every 3 months when prompted, and ensure your banking details and phone number are up to date. Complete eKYC verification if you haven't already.
A court has ruled the R624 threshold unconstitutional, but the government is appealing. Until the appeal is resolved, the threshold remains at R624/month. If the appeal fails, the government will need to increase the threshold, which could mean more people qualify for the grant.
Approximately R3.33 billion per month (about 8.2 million recipients at R370 each). The total allocation for 2026/27 is R36.4 billion. The entire social grants budget for 2026/27 is R292.8 billion across all grant types. View all grant amounts →