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 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. Continue reconfirming every 3 months as usual. 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 | R1,220 | +R40 |
| 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.
Grant suspended during fraud review? If your grant was paused for a fraud check, don't panic. Legitimate beneficiaries will have their grants restored after verification. Check your status at srd.sassa.gov.za. 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.
Scammers offer to help recipients claim unpaid grants from previous months at retail stores. This is fake. SASSA does not process retroactive payments through retail outlets.
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 →