How to Apply for COVID-19 SASSA R350 Grant?

It is good news for the South African nation as the government has introduced an unemployment grant. It is a grant for people who are suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic. So if you are affected by this pandemic and need support then you are eligible for the Covid-19 SASSA R350 grant. And now you must be thinking desperately “How to apply for Covid-19 SASSA R350 grant?“. Aren’t you?

Well, don’t worry! Applying for this grant is actually super easy. As easy as it looks, there are certain criteria you need to meet in order to qualify for the grant. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for this grant. Also, the SASSA status check for R350 is very easy and you can check the status after applying for this social relief grant.

What is SASSA SRD R350 Grant?

SASSA stands for South African Social Security Agency and it is a welfare program launched by the government of South Africa to provide financial assistance and a social security system. It was established in April 2005.

SASSA SRD R350 grant is a monthly grant for unemployed South African citizens. The grant provides people with financial assistance to survive during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now that the pandemic has diminished, the grant is no longer subject to the State of Disaster Act. The Special Relief of Distress Grant is now administered under the Social Assistance Act 2004 (Act No. 13 of 2004).

Eligibility Criteria for SASSA SRD R350 Grant

In order to apply for the grant, you must meet the following eligibility criteria. Here they are:

  • Applicants must be South African citizens or permanent residents of the country.
  • Applicants must be unemployed and not receive any other form of government grants like the national student financial aid scheme and unemployment insurance benefits.
  • To take advantage of the services provided by SASSA, you must register as an unemployed individual.
  • You are prohibited from receiving unemployment grants in excess of the predetermined threshold earnings.
  • You must be 18 years of age or 60 years maximum.
  • Verify your income to SASSA.
  • Verify social security benefits.

Required Things to Applying for SASSA Grant

  • South African ID card number
  • First name and last name
  • Complete documents to verify your residential address
  • Applicant gender
  • Proof of disability
  • Bank name and bank account number
  • Provide documents related to the employment and lifestyle of the applicant
  • All other personal information and documents

How to Apply for SASSA SRD R350 Grant?

How to Apply for SASSA SRD R350 Grant?

There are four ways to apply for an SRD R350 unemployment grant. We will teach you all the methods. So let’s see what those application methods are:

  • Apply through an online website
  • Use GovChat to Apply
  • Apply via WhatsApp
  • Apply via Email
  • Apply Via Facebook

Step 1: Choose the SASSA SRD R350 Grant Application Method

Choose the SASSA SRD R350 Grant Application Method

This is the first step, where you need to choose the application method. As you can see there are five different methods that you can choose so pick up your preferred one and follow the further steps.

Step 1.1) Apply for SASSA SRD R350 Grant Online

This is the most obvious and simple method to apply for the grant. For this method, you need to visit the official website of SASSA. So let’s see what prompts you need to follow.

  1. Visit http://srd.sassa.gov.za/ from your mobile or laptop.
  2. Now click on Apply for SASSA R350 grant.
  3. On this page, enter your ID number and phone number.
  4. You will receive an OTP (One-Time Password) SMS on your phone.
  5. You need to enter that password on the official website.
  6. Now accept all terms and conditions.
  7. Submit your form and that’s it.

Now you will receive a confirmation SMS if you will get approval for this grant. So keep checking your phone for the confirmation SMS.

Note: Follow step 2 and onward steps to find your application process. Step 2 is mentioned below after all method types.

Step 1.2) Apply for SASSA R350 Grant Using GovChat

Now you can also apply for a SASSA grant using GovChat. In this way, you need to follow these instructions:

  1. Visit the URL https://govchat.app/login and login to your account.
  2. Enter your mobile phone number inside the number box.
  3. Solve the captcha puzzle and click on the login button.
  4. Now head over to “SASSA Services”.
  5. Click on “SASSA Grants”.
  6. Now click on “Apply for grant”.
  7. Click on “Social relief of distress (R350) grant”.
  8. Here you need to create a new form to apply for a grant.
  9. Now enter all the required stuff inside the application form.
  10. Finally, you need to click on “submit personal details”.
  11. From here, you will get a reference number.
  12. Now follow step 2 and further process.

Step 1.3) Apply via WhatsApp

This is the third and easy method to apply for a 350 Rand monthly grant. In this way, the applicant can use his or her WhatsApp number to apply for a grant. Here is how to perform it:

  1. Open your phone and save this number as SASSA R350 Grant “+270820468553”.
  2. Now open your WhatsApp and head over to the chat section.
  3. Create a new chat and choose “SASSA R350 Grant” as a recipient.
  4. Now send a message to SASSA and wait for the reply.
  5. Once you get the reply, you need to send another message with the code “SRD”.
  6. Here you have two options, one is you can apply for yourself and the other is you can apply for any other person.
  7. Now you need to provide your personal details like, your name, surname, the ID number for SASSA, residency proof, and South African ID card number.
  8. You also need to provide your home address or postal address.
  9. Now choose your citizen status like the permanent residence of SA, refugee, and citizen of SA.
  10. In the end, you will receive a reference number and OTP for your application. You need to submit that PIN within 2 hours before it expires.
  11. Accept all terms and conditions and proceed to step 2.

Step 1.4) Send Email to SASSA for R350 Grant Application

  1. Open your email account.
  2. In case you are using Gmail, head over to compose a new email.
  3. Now enter “[email protected]” as the recipient email.
  4. In the message body, write your first name, last name, ID number, and home address and send it.

You will get a response from SASSA in your email with all the details that you need to follow.

Step 1.5) Apply With Facebook

This method is not so good as you need to send a message on the Facebook page of the SASSA R350 grant. Sometimes they do not respond on Facebook and your application can be rejected. Still, if you want to apply through Facebook, then follow the steps:

  1. Open the URL https://www.facebook.com/govchat.org.
  2. Click on the “Send Message” button.
  3. Now head over to the message box and type your name, surname, ID number, home address, and South African ID card number.
  4. Finally, click on the “Send” button to submit your application.
  5. After submitting you will receive a confirmation SMS if your application is approved for the grant.

Step 2) Accept all the Terms and Conditions

After choosing and completing your preferred application method, you need to complete step two for each application method type. This is the agreement between the applicant and the grant provider. So you need to accept all the terms and conditions.

Step 3) Submit Your Personal Information

This is the third step and here you need to provide your personal information. The information that you need to provide is your first name, surname, home address, gender, and other information. Once you submit all this information, now follow step 4.

Step 4) Submit your Bank Details

This is the most crucial process because, from this detail, SASSA will counter-verify whether an applicant has another source of income or not. All applicants must need to provide a valid bank account number that is registered in their name. Now Sassa will send your banking details to the treasury department where they will testify your bank account. But what if you do not have a bank account? Don’t worry, you can still apply for the SASSA R350 grant. Just follow the procedure.

Apply for R350 SRD Grant with Bank Account

If you have a working and valid bank account, you need to follow this step.

  1. Choose the name of your bank.
  2. Now enter your bank account number.
  3. Choose the bank branch name.
  4. Choose your bank account type.
  5. Agree on the terms and conditions.

Apply for R350 SRD Grant without Bank Account

Now if an applicant does not have a bank account, he/she can still apply for this grant and get cash from the following banks.

  • FNB
  • Standard Bank
  • ABSA
  • NEDBank

If you are approved for a grant and you do not have any bank then you can still get your payment from the ATM, post office, and the above-mentioned four banks.

Step 5) Get Confirmation SMS

After submitting all the details, you will get a pre-generated PIN from SASSA. This PIN is essential for verification. Re-submit the PIN and then you will get a confirmation SMS that will make sure your application is now submitted. If your application will be approved, you will also get a confirmation SMS.

Step 6) SASSA Verification Process

Now it’s time to wait for SASSA verification. This will take around 10-15 working days, depending on how much your application is in demand. After the approval of your application, you will get a grant amount of R350 in your bank account or another medium if you do not have a bank account.

Therefore, this is the whole procedure for applying for the SASSA R350 grant.

Step 7) SASSA Status Check for R350

To know whether your application is approved or not, you need to check the SASSA status for the R350 grant. To check the status of your SRD R350 grant, here is the process that you need to follow.

  1. Open the official website of SASSA.
  2. Click on “Application status”.
  3. Now click on “Click here to check online”.
  4. Enter your ID number and phone number.
  5. Get an SMS and provide OTP.
  6. Get the status of your application.

F.A.Qs

When will Sassa approve my grant application?

Unfortunately, there is no precise date for the Sassa R350 grant. But once you’ve been approved, you will be paid immediately for that same month.

Why is my grant delayed?

There are many factors that can cause a delay in the Sassa grant. This could be due to a processing backlog or errors in your documents. If you think there’s an issue with your application, you can contact Sassa for further assistance.

How much money will I receive if my grant is approved?

The exact amount you’ll receive from the Sassa grant depends on your individual circumstances. Generally, applicants will be eligible to receive R350 a month.

Does my Sassa grant application expire?

No, your Sassa grant application does not expire. If you’ve been approved, the grant will be paid until you no longer meet the requirements.

Do I need to reapply for my Sassa grant each month?

No, once you’ve been approved and are receiving your monthly grant, you do not need to reapply each month. However, SASSA will keep verifying your documents for each month. It is because the circumstances for any person can change.

What documents do I need to apply for the Sassa grant?

The required documents are:

  • Original or certified copy of South African ID document.
  • Proof of residence in the form of a utility bill, bank statement, or a letter from a traditional leader.
  • Proof of your monthly income (if applicable).

Can I apply for the SASSA R350 grant even if I don’t have a bank account?

Yes, you can still apply for the grant. However, you can collect your payment in cash.