SASSA’s COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payments for August will run from Monday, August 24, to Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
The R370 SRD grant payment window comes as SASSA reminds beneficiaries about its WhatsApp self-service channel, giving recipients another way to access grant information without visiting an office.
It follows the September SASSA payment cycle for older persons, disability and children’s grants, which has been confirmed and is set to follow the agency’s regular schedule.
The August payment cycle also comes as the SRD grant system faces a key legal test, with the Supreme Court of Appeal due to hear government’s appeal against a landmark Pretoria High Court ruling.
August SRD payments, WhatsApp service and the court challenge
Unlike fixed-date grants, SRD payments are processed in staggered batches.
Beneficiaries can therefore receive their money on different days, depending on verification and processing.
SASSA has reminded SRD beneficiaries that its automated WhatsApp self-service channel is available on 082 601 0111.
The service gives recipients another way to access information about their grant without visiting a SASSA office or contacting the agency’s call centre.
The digital push comes against the backdrop of a legal challenge over the online-only SRD application system.
In January 2025, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled that the 2023 regulations governing the R370 SRD grant were unconstitutional and invalid in several respects.
The court struck down the requirement for applications to be submitted exclusively online and ordered SASSA to allow in-person applications.
The court also found problems with how the regulations defined income and financial support, as well as the use of bank verification to assess applicants.
The judgment described the restrictions as a barrier to vulnerable South Africans seeking social assistance.
As the presiding judge noted: “The state cannot shirk its responsibility to its most vulnerable citizens under the guise of procedural limitations.”
The landmark SRD court ruling on online-only applications and irregular income remains central to the current appeal.
The Supreme Court of Appeal is due to hear the government’s appeal on August 25, one day after the August SRD payment cycle begins.
Why groups want in-person SRD applications
The legal challenge has kept the focus on whether South Africans who struggle to access digital services can apply for the SRD grant on an equal footing.
The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and other civil society groups have called for in-person applications, arguing that an online-only system can exclude people without reliable internet access, data or sufficient digital literacy.
Speaking during a recent webinar attended by NOWinSA, IEJ senior researcher Kelly Howson said the government had introduced barriers to access while trying to keep grant payments within its budget.
“This has forced DSD and SASSA to erect barriers to access, to artificially keep grant disbursements within the budget cap,” Howson said.
She identified online-only applications and the bank verification system as two key barriers.
Howson said about 14% of people in South Africa do not have internet access, adding that those without connectivity are likely to include some of the country’s poorest residents.
She also raised concerns about monthly bank checks. Money deposited into an applicant’s account can be treated as income and affect eligibility, even when the money comes from a once-off donation, a family member or another source that does not represent regular income.
That concern is particularly important for SRD beneficiaries who rely on occasional financial help to get through the month.
What the August SRD payment cycle means for recipients
Despite the legal uncertainty, government has confirmed that the R370 SRD grant will continue until March 2027.
Treasury has allocated an additional R36.4 billion to extend the grant until March 31, 2027. Around 8.2 million people currently receive the grant each month, at a cost of more than R3 billion.
For August, beneficiaries should use August 24 to 26 as the key payment window and regularly check their SRD payment status.
SASSA has also urged beneficiaries to keep their banking and payment details up to date to help prevent avoidable delays.
The WhatsApp service provides another route for beneficiaries seeking information about their grant.
Other SASSA deadlines and payment changes
The SRD payment cycle is not the only important SASSA development beneficiaries need to watch this month.
The SASSA Gold Card switch deadline closes on August 31. Beneficiaries who have not yet switched should note that the August 31 deadline will not be extended further, and the old Gold Card will no longer work for grant payments after the deadline.
SASSA is also continuing grant reviews, with affected beneficiaries required to provide supporting documents.
Recipients can check which documents are required for SASSA grant reviews and what they need to do if their grant has been flagged.
Another recent change involved the addition of a fourth SASSA payment date for selected beneficiaries affected by reviews or eLife Certification.
Where to get SASSA SRD help
Beneficiaries with questions about their SRD payment, application, review or grant status can use SASSA’s official support channels.
- SASSA toll-free Call Centre: 0800 60 10 11
- SASSA website: sassa.gov.za
- SRD portal: srd.sassa.gov.za
- SASSA WhatsApp self-service: 082 601 0111
Beneficiaries should use official SASSA channels when checking payment information and avoid sharing banking or personal details with unofficial contacts.
