JOHANNESBURG — The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has officially confirmed that COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payments for January 2026 will be made between January 23 and 28, bringing clarity after days of uncertainty among beneficiaries.
The confirmation follows growing concern over the lack of visible payment statuses on the SRD portal earlier this week.
SASSA said the R370 SRD grant remains available to individuals in need of temporary assistance who have insufficient means and meet the qualifying criteria.
Who Qualifies for the SRD Grant?
According to SASSA, applicants must fall into one of the following categories:
- South African citizens
- Permanent residents
- Recognised refugees
- Holders of special permits under the Angolan, Lesotho or Zimbabwe Exemption Permit dispensations
- Asylum seekers with a valid Section 22 permit or visa
Applicants must also:
- Be between 18 and 60 years old
- Be currently residing in South Africa
- Not live in a government-funded or subsidised institution
- Not unreasonably refuse employment or educational opportunities
- Be registered on the Department of Home Affairs database or SASSA’s system with a unique identifying number
SASSA has urged all beneficiaries to check their application status and ensure their personal and banking details are correct to avoid delays.
Why This Confirmation Matters
The announcement comes after a tense period marked by online speculation and confusion. Earlier this month, SASSA was forced to publicly dismiss viral claims that the SRD grant was being terminated.
Read more: SRD grant ending rumours spark fear — what SASSA says
In addition, SASSA recently issued a formal media statement clarifying that no changes have been made to SRD qualification criteria, following misinformation suggesting foreign nationals were newly eligible under revised rules.
Who the SRD Grant Is Meant For
The SRD grant is designed as temporary relief for unemployed individuals with no other source of income. It is not automatic and is subject to monthly verification checks, including income, employment, and identity verification.
Applicants and beneficiaries are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the latest requirements to avoid rejections or cancellations:
- Updated 8 key requirements for SRD grant approval
- SASSA announces compulsory SRD rule for new applicants
How to Apply or Check Your SRD Status
Eligible applicants can apply for or check the status of their SRD grant via the official SASSA portal:
SASSA has reiterated that it will never ask beneficiaries to pay a fee, share their PIN, or click on unofficial links to receive payment.
The bottom line
With payment dates now officially confirmed, approved SRD beneficiaries can expect their R370 payments to reflect between 23 and 28 January 2026. Those still seeing “pending” or “approved” statuses are advised to keep monitoring official platforms and avoid unverified information circulating on social media.
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