How To Apply For SASSA SRD Grant For The First Time (2025)

This is how to apply for SASSA SRD Grant for the first time. If you’re trying to apply for the SASSA SRD R350 Grant for the first time and wondering how to go about it, then you’re on the right page.

The South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) encourages people to apply for the SRD Grant even if it’s their first time. Again, the Agency has made the application very simple for new applicants.

The South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) with its Social Distress of Relief (SRD) pays beneficiaries R350 each month.

So, if you’re here as a new applicant and want to know how to submit SRD Grant application for the first time, then you’re welcome.

In this article, you’ll learn how to apply for SRD Grant for the first time online, via WhatsApp, and other application channels for the R350 Grant.

How To Apply For SASSA SRD Grant For The First Time

There are three (3) SASSA SRD R350 Grant application options for first-time applicants applying for the grant. The 3 R350 Grant application methods are

1. SRD official website via online

2. SRD WhatsApp application

3. SRD Chatbot application.

Now let us look at each SASSA SRD application method for first-time applicants.

How to apply for SASSA SRD Grant Online for the first time

Follow this application method if you apply for the SRD Grant online for the first time.

1. Go to https://srd.sassa.gov.za/
2. Enter your Cell Phone Number
3. Click “Send SMS)
4. You’ll receive a 6-digit OTP number via SMS on your phone
5. Enter the OTP number and click the “Verify Pin” button
6. Agree to the Terms and Conditions of the Declaration and Consent Document Rules
7. South African Nationals can enter their ID Number while other Nationals can enter their Special Permit Number
8. Provide your personal information like Name, Surname, Address, and Gender
9. Enter your banking details (bank name, branch, account number, and account type) or choose the payment option “Send Cash”
10. Submit your payment option and Agree to the Terms and Conditions
11. SASSA will verify your application from the Department of Home Office database from your personal and banking details
12. You’ll receive an SMS on your Cell Phone notifying you that your SRD Grant is active
13. Asylum Seekers and Special Permit Holders will get a Payment ID to collect payment at Pick ‘n Pay

How to apply for SASSA SRD Grant for the first time through WhatsApp

Follow this process if you choose to apply for SASSA R350 Grant for the first time through WhatsApp.

• Add 082 046 8553 as a contact number on your cell phone
• Open WhatsApp and send a message “Hi” to the number
• You’ll receive a response and you’ll then send “help”
• Reply saying “4” with the many options you’ll be given
• You’ll be taken to the Unathi SASSA Platform messaging which you’ll have to reply “SRD”
• Confirm whether you’re applying for yourself or somebody else
• The actual SASSA SRD application will open where you’ll have to complete the forms by providing all the information required
• Submit your ID number, cell phone number, employment status, financial status, home address, etc.
• Submit your SRD Grant application via WhatsApp after you complete the application form

How to apply for SASSA SRD Grant for the first time via Chatbot

Follow the below guide to apply for SASSA R350 Grant for the first time via Chatbot.

• Visit the SASSA Website
• Click on the SRD R350 Grant assistance chatbox
• Enter your ID Number and Phone Number
• Choose the option “Apply for the SRD R350 Grant” on the Chatbot”
• Click on the SRD website link provided by the SASSA Chatbot
• Follow the SRD website application instructions form and provide all information and documents required.
• Submit your application after you have double-checked that the information you’ve provided is accurate and up-to-date.

Again, since it’s your first time applying for the SASSA SRD Grant, you must provide accurate information and document details.

Failure to do so may result in your application getting rejected by the South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA).

How to qualify for SASSA SRD Grant for the first time application

The South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) has laid down requirements that first-time applicants for the SRD Grant are to meet to get approved for their application.

These requirements are as follows.

• Residency Requirement: You must be living in South Africa.
• Eligibility Criteria: You must meet at least one of the following:
  • Be a South African citizen.
  • Be a recognized refugee in South Africa.
  • Be an asylum seeker in South Africa with a valid Section 22 permit or visa.
  • Hold a special permit under the Angolan Dispensation, Lesotho Exemption Permit, or Zimbabwe Exemption Permit.
• Age Requirement: You must be between 18 and 60 years old.
• Income Threshold: Your monthly income must not exceed R624.
• Employment Status: You must be unemployed and not receive financial support from any other source.
• Financial Need: You must lack sufficient means to support yourself.
• Grant Restrictions: You must not be receiving any other social grants for yourself.
• UIF Exclusion: You must not be contributing to or eligible for UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) payments.
• Opportunity Acceptance: You must not unreasonably refuse employment or educational opportunities.
• NSFAS Exclusion: You must not be receiving a stipend from NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme).

What to remember when applying for SASSA SRD Grant for the first time

Choose application method:

If you are applying for the SRD Grant for the first time, it is advisable to know the application method you’ll use.

You have WhatsApp, Chatbot, and online application options to choose from.

Choosing the easiest application method among the 3 options will make the application more simple for you.

Providing personal details:

When applying for SASSA Grant for the first time, you’re supposed to provide your details. These include name, surname, middle, name, ID number, asylum seeker or special permit holder details.

The South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) will cross-check your personal details against the Department of Home Affairs database to ensure they are valid and accurate.

With that said, you must provide accurate and up-to-date information when applying to SASSA SRD R350 Grant for the first time.

Verifying age requirement:

The South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) requires applicants for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) should be between the ages of 18 to 60 years old.

You do not qualify for the SRD Grant if you’re less than 18 or more than 60 years old.

Financial status:

First time applicants for the SASSA SRD Grant are to meet the financial status to qualify for the grant. You must not be receiving any social grant like UIF and NSFAS.

Again, your monthly total income should not exceed R624.

Providing cell phone number:

Providing your cell phone number is very important when knowing how to apply for SASSA SRD Grant for the first time. This is because SASSA will mostly communicate with you through your cell phone number.

It is advisable to provide your cell phone number or a cell phone number you have easy access to.

Choosing payment option:

When you apply for SASSA SRD for the first time, you must choose a payment option for your grant. You can choose bank payment which is the recommended SRD payment option.

Nonetheless, if you do not have banking details, there are other payment options you can choose from CashSend, USave, or Checkers to collect your SRD Grant payment.

Read also:

1. SASSA SRD Grant Application Online

2. Documents Required To Replace Lost SASSA Card

3. Required Documents To Reconfirm SASSA SRD Grant

You now know how to apply for SASSA SRD Grant for the first time and hopefully, you can apply for the grant henceforth.

You can ask your question about applying for SASSA R350 Grant for the first time in the comment section below.