Updated on January 23, 2024
For low to medium-income households in South Africa, we highly recommend reading this article. It provides detailed information about the updated R350 eligibility criteria, as the Treasury is implementing additional criteria to determine R350 eligibility.
New R350 Eligibility Criteria
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has extended the implementation of the SRD Grant until March 2025, allocating R34 billion for continuous payments. The Treasury will continue to apply strict criteria to assess eligibility, considering factors such as bank account balances.
If an individual is found ineligible for the grant, measures will be taken to prevent them from obtaining it. To address abuses in the system, the National Treasury has introduced two new eligibility criteria for the R350 grant.
To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the New R350 Eligibility Criteria, it is essential to continue reading this article. The discussion will cover both the current and new eligibility criteria, emphasizing the significance of the R350 grant.
Importance of R350 Grant
The SASSA Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD 350) is open to refugees and holders of asylum seeker permits, provided by the South African government for individuals currently unemployed. The grant amount is R350 per month, beginning on the day it is approved, serving as a Special COVID-19 social grant to offer financial assistance.
Initially introduced in 2020 to assist unemployed individuals during the pandemic, the SRD award has become a crucial source of support for millions of South Africans. Currently, nearly 7 million people receive the award each month from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
For those who meet the qualifying criteria and are in need, a crucial initial step in obtaining financial assistance is to apply for the SRD SASSA grant. Online applications can be submitted through the SASSA mobile application or website.
New R350 Eligibility Criteria Overview
| Article Theme | New R350 Eligibility Criteria |
| Complete Name of the Grant | Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD 350) |
| Provided By | South Africa |
| Administered By | SASSA |
| Amount | R350 |
| New Eligibility Criteria | Discussed Below |
| Announced By | Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana |
Additional Criteria Applied by Treasury for R350 Eligibility Determination
National Treasury has revealed the addition of two more requirements to the existing SRD grant criteria. These additional criteria for determining R350 eligibility have been introduced to ensure that only deserving applicants receive funding.
One of the new criteria is to ensure that SRD grant candidates do not possess multiple bank accounts. Additionally, individuals with R670 or more in their bank accounts are not eligible for the social relief of distress grant.
The government is concerned that individuals may exploit the system by having multiple bank accounts, circumventing the established restrictions to ensure that only deserving individuals receive the grant.
Current R350 Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must also satisfy the existing eligibility criteria to qualify for the SRD grant. They need to be unemployed individuals, either citizens or permanent residents of South Africa, aged between 18 and 59. Additionally, holders of special permits and permanent residents are also eligible to receive the SRD grant.
Beneficiaries of the SRD grant should not be receiving any form of support from the South African government or any state-affiliated institution. Individuals receiving the SRD award are ineligible to be beneficiaries of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) or the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
Final Words
In order to ensure that they haven’t found a job in the interim, candidates must continue to reapply for the award every three months, according to Modise. This is because a person’s eligibility for the SRD Grant is lost if their income exceeds the grant’s income level.
According to real figures, only 5.2 million of the 11.3 million applicants who were eligible for the grant after the new requirements were implemented in April were chosen. In contrast, since the R350 handouts were first offered and the qualifying requirements were much less stringent, 10.5 million people have benefited from them.
We are delighted that we could provide you with the latest update on the New R350 Eligibility Criteria.