Finally, the SASSA SRD grant extension news is out. Yes, the R370 grant has once again been extended. The current extension is set to 31 March 2028. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced during the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, that the grant is getting another year.
However, the R370 payment has not changed. Also, the rules are the same as before. SASSA will still check your details every month before any money goes out
The extension is good news for those who are currently receiving the COVID-19 SRD grant. They can get R370 payment until March, 2028.
COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant is Extended
Let’s check out what the Treasury actually said. Here is the exact wording from the 2026 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement:
“The social relief of distress grant will be extended for another year while work continues on integration with labour market activation, skills development and enterprise support interventions.”
In February 2026, the government of South Africa set a budget of R36.4 billion to keep the SRD going until 31 March 2027. The grant was supposed to end in March 2027, but this news came, and the date has changed.
This is not the first time that we have received SRD grant extension news. The grant has been getting extensions since it was introduced as a temporary financial measure in May 2020.
What Should You Expect from this Extension?
All the SRD grant beneficiaries should be thankful to SASSA and the government of South Africa for this one-year extension. However, the grant payment is still the same, which is R370 per month.
There is no change in the grant application process, eligibility criteria, or approval numbers. Everything is running as it was previously.
Your monthly checks continue exactly as before, which means your status can still show approved one month and declined the next, depending on what the checks find. The Treasury also said beneficiaries will be linked to employment, training and business opportunities through MzansiXchange, the data platform departments use to verify beneficiaries across government. Verification is clearly a big focus for them, so make sure your banking details and cellphone number on the system are correct. Wrong details are still the fastest way to delay your own payment.
The Treasury estimates that about 8.2 million people will receive the SRD grant in the 2026/27 financial year. The grant is still meant for people aged 18 to 59 who earn little or nothing, and the means test still applies.
Basic Income Support Grant as SRD Alternative
The SRD grant is a temporary grant and will end one day for sure. However, beneficiaries are looking for a grant that can provide permanent Basic Income Support for every vulnerable citizen.
But there is no confirmed news from any official source that there will be a Basic Income Support grant.
President Cyril Ramaphosa previously called the idea a livelihood grant, but it did not happen. The Minister gave no timetable or conversion plan, and the question was simply left open.
Groups like the Black Sash have criticised this because extending a temporary grant year after year leaves millions unsure about their future. For now, the SRD is a temporary grant.
Supreme Court of Appeal Case Hanging Over
There is a second story running in the background, and it could change the grant far more than this extension does. The government is waiting on the Supreme Court of Appeal to rule on its appeal against a High Court judgment.
That judgment found the SRD means test threshold, the grant value, the definition of income and the income verification arrangements invalid.
The Treasury itself warned that if the judgment stands, roughly three million more people could become eligible, and the annual cost could jump from about R36 billion to about R74 billion. Nobody knows when that ruling will land.
What to Expect in the Future
The grant continues at R370 a month until March 2028. Just keep in mind that the extension of the grant does not mean that you are approved. Every month still has to be approved on its own, so keep checking your status and keep your payment details up to date.
For the permanent grant, we still need to wait and hope for positive news from the government.
