It goes without question that the Sassa R350 grant has cemented its place as a preventative measure against absolute poverty for many South Africans. As a result, the Department of Social Development is lobbying the Cabinet to extend the R350 grant for another two years.
The department’s Deputy Director-General, Brenda Sibeko says that this is because problems that the grant is meant to address such poverty and unemployment are still prevalent.
There is still poverty, there's still hunger, there is still unemployment in the country. People who are accessing this grant show us every month that they have less than R624 in their bank account when we check their income levels. We think it's more important to ensure that people have enough money to buy food.
Sibeko also acknowledged that the value of the R350 grant has been negatively impacted by inflation since it was first introduced three years ago and should be increased.
Calls For The R350 Grant To Be Increased
She goes on to say that this should be the government’s top priority, particularly when the National Treasury Department looks at funds that are returned from underspending on some of its national budget allocation.
There have previously been calls for the R350 grant to be increased to match the country’s poverty threshold by various civil right organisations. Some have called for it to serve as a foundation for a Basic Income Grant intended for unemployed adults aged between 18 and 60.
Who Qualifies For The R350 Grant?
Since its previous extension, the R350 grant is currently due to end on 31 March 2024. The grant is currently provided to more than 7.5 million qualifying individuals who meet the following requirements.
To qualify for the SRD Grant, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a South African citizen, permanent resident, asylum seeker or holder of a special permit.
- Be above the age of 18.
- Not receiving any other form of income or social grant, such as the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), NSFAS, or the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant.
- Not be a student receiving financial aid or a bursary.
- Not be receiving any other Covid-19-related relief or assistance from the government.
It's important to note that meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee approval for the R350 grant. There is a limited budget allocated for the programme, and applications are subject to review and approval.
However, you not let this should not discourage you from submitting your R350 grant application, as this is also a simple and straightforward, provided you use the following steps to do so:
How To Apply For The R350 Grant
- Visit the official Sassa srd website
- Look for the SRD Grant application form and click on it.
- Fill in the required information, including your personal details, contact information, and banking details.
- Provide any supporting documents that may be required, such as your ID document, proof of residence, and proof of unemployment.
- Review your application to ensure all information is accurate and complete.
- Submit your application.
Once your application is submitted, it will undergo a review process to determine your eligibility for the SRD Grant. The review process may take some time, so it's important to be patient and check for updates regularly. To find out more about Sassa grants, including the R350 grant, head to our Sassa section.
