The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has confirmed the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payment dates for August 2025, with disbursements scheduled from Wednesday, August 27 to Saturday, August 30.
The SRD Grant, set at R370 per month, was first introduced in May 2020 to support South Africans facing severe material hardship — from unemployment and loss of income to waiting for other grants such as child support.
Today, it remains a lifeline for over 7.5 million beneficiaries, with more than 17.4 million South Africans having applied since inception.
ALSO READ: SASSA clarifies the only insurance deductions permitted on social grants
What to do if you see “Referred Status”
SASSA explained:
“What does referred status mean? It means you need to verify your identity.
Why do I get referred status? You get referred status to enhance security, ensure that we are paying the eligible beneficiary and minimize the risk of paying the wrong person.”
To resolve this, beneficiaries must log into the SASSA self-service site and follow the prompts. Once corrected, payments are processed in the next cycle, and all historic payments are disbursed according to schedule.
Mobile number update tool now active
Building on its July improvements, SASSA has also introduced a mobile number update option requiring biometric verification (e-KYC).
“COVID-19 SRD Clients can now update their mobile number on the SRD Website: https://srd.sassa.gov.za. Clients will be required to perform biometric verification (e-KYC) to complete the mobile number update,” SASSA said in its July statement.
This means clients who lost phone access or changed numbers can finally receive OTPs, payment notifications, and login details without disruption.
Nationwide fraud prevention review
In addition, SASSA has intensified its fraud detection and prevention checks by cross-referencing data with banks, credit bureaus, and government databases. While this effort is aimed at preserving public trust and cutting fraudulent claims, some beneficiaries may experience temporary delays.
🔗 Read who’s affected and what to do here.
Other August 2025 SASSA payments
For recipients of other social grants, including old age, disability, child support, and foster care, the full August 2025 SASSA payment schedule has already been confirmed.
What is the SRD Grant?
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant is a temporary measure designed for individuals who cannot meet basic household needs. Assistance may be provided as:
- Cash payments (currently R370)
- Food parcels
- Vouchers for food purchases
Applicants must:
- Be over 18
- Be unemployed and not receiving UIF, NSFAS, or any other form of income or grant
- Be South African citizens, permanent residents, refugees, or asylum seekers
- Have a monthly income below R624
Full application details can be found at srd.sassa.gov.za.
Related Reading
- Compulsory SRD grant rule for new applicants: No payment without this step
- Here’s how the revised budget affects all 8 SASSA 2025 grant increases
âś… Bottom line: August 2025 SRD payments will run from August 27 to 30.
Beneficiaries are urged to verify their referred status, update mobile numbers if necessary, and stay informed of fraud review checks to avoid unnecessary delays.
