The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has brought to light significant changes concerning the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant for the early part of 2026. This grant, which is aimed at unemployed adults with no or very little income, has been continued and will provide much-needed financial assistance to millions of people living in the country.
The R370 Grant Extension Up To 2026
Initially, the SRD grant too had a life-span during the COVID-19 pandemic but it got extended and still remains active through the month of January 2026. The qualifying recipients will still be able to get the R370 amount every month but this is taxable to a monthly checking of their eligibility. The state has signified that this grant continues to be a major support measure as the long review of job and income-support solutions continues.
Clarification of the January 2026 Payment Schedule
In contrast to the case of permanent social grants like Old Age or Child Support, SASSA R370 payments do not have fixed dates. Typically, payments are processed in batches from the middle to the end of the month during the month. Each beneficiary gets a unique payment date after his or her application has been verified for that month.
Beneficiaries are recommended to constantly verify their payment status since the amount that has been approved might take some days to reflect in the respective bank account after the processing depending on the bank.
The Payments Process
SASSA mainly disburses the R370 grant via bank accounts and through its approved payment partners. Beneficiaries are required to confirm the correctness and the activity of their banking details. Even if the application is accepted, incorrect or outdated information might lead to delays or failures in payment.
Eligibility and Monthly Verification
The SRD grant eligibility rules for 2026 are the same. To qualify, applicants must be out of work, not benefiting from other social grants (Child Support being the only exception), and their income must be below the set threshold. SASSA performs monthly means testing and identity verification, which means that a person getting approved in one month may not necessarily be approved in the next month automatically.
Common Reasons for Payment Delays
Payments may be delayed when the verification is not completed, the personal details do not match, or there are problems with the bank. In turn, if any discrepancies are found, SASSA can ask for further investigations. Beneficiaries are advised to reply quickly whenever their verification is requested in order to prevent interruptions in receiving their grants.
What Beneficiaries Should Do Next
Recipients should frequently check the status of their SRD grant, ensure that their personal and banking details are always current, and depend only on official communications from SASSA. Do not post your personal information on unverified websites or platforms as this could lead to fraud.
Also Read: SASSA January 2026 Grant Increase Explained: New Payment Dates, Amounts & Eligibility
