The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) is now paying Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants to approved beneficiaries for August 2024.
SRD grant payments are made during the final week of the month after Sassa completes various verification checks. These verification checks seek to ensure only deserving individuals receive SRD grant payments. Sassa said approved SRD grant applicants will receive SRD grant payments from Saturday 24 August until Friday 30 August.
Payments (for clients who are approved for August 2024) will be processed from 24-30 August 2024.
SRD grant beneficiaries are encouraged to complete an SRD Grant Status Check to see if they have been approved for payments in August.
Funds will take about 2-3 working days to reflect in the client’s account after payment has been processed.
If you have been approved for an SRD grant payment in August 2024, you have two collection options. You can either have your SRD grant paid directly into your bank account or collect the money at a supermarket.
Supermarkets authorised to pay SRD Grants include Pick n Pay, Boxer, Checkers, USave, OK, and Spar.
Who Will Receive SRD Grant Payments in August 2024
Only approved SRD grant applicants will receive a payment in August 2024. This approval is subject to various verification checks by Sassa to ensure that a grant applicant qualifies to receive the unemployment grant.
When applying for the SRD grant, applicants must provide their ID number, name, and surname. This information is validated by the Department of Home Affairs to verify the applicant's residency status.
The applicant's ID number is cross-referenced with databases from the South African Revenue Services (SARS), Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to assess their financial situation and ensure they are not receiving any other government relief.
Both the ID number and mobile number are subjected to a fraud risk scoring process. After completing these checks, Sassa evaluates the application and makes a final approval decision.
Future of the SRD Grant
The SRD Grant is paid to nine million people in South Africa every month and is the only grant specifically intended to assist unemployed adults in the country.
The government allocated R33.6 billion for the implementation of the grant until March 2025. However, provisional allocations indicate that extensions may be possible through March 2027.
