The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) offered more clarity on foreign nationals’ eligibility for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. The R370 SRD grant turns out to be a rather substantial bonus for vulnerable individuals–yet no one is quite sure who really qualifies to claim the grant, even this year, for people living in the country who are not South African citizens.
Who Are They, Then, These Noncitizens Who Would Apply for the Grant
SASSA has confirmed that not all foreign nationals shall enjoy the SRD grant. Only specific categories of noncitizens living in South Africa legally and meeting strict income and residence requirements qualify. This includes recognized refugees, asylum seekers with valid permits, and holders of special permits issued under government immigration programmes. Outstanding waves of people are those with no valid documentation nor any legal status, therefore noneligible for SRD assistance.
Income & Residence requirements.
Foreign nationals must satisfy the same financial criteria as a South African. That implies that an unemployment grant has to be the only type of grant that they receive, and they must show that they earn below the poverty line. They also must be on South African soil when applying or through the duration of approval. These are verified via monthly interrogations through which suggests that verification should authenticate the same later.
Procedures for Documentation and Verification
Foreign nationals shall be entitled to this SRD grant under the condition that they also support their approval with proof-of-relevant documents like permit or refugee status. Offical arrangements further allow SASSA to verify whether the applicant’s immigration status and permits issued are in good standing. Applications may be put on hold if the documents cannot clarify such details, or if the one trying to claim the grant has an invalid permit that fails to equalize with the biometric data available from Home Affairs.
Appealing for Declined Cases
Foreign national applicants have the right to appeal in cases where they are declined, whether the reason be verification or documentation. SASSA allows an appeal window, and within that, an appeal can be submitted by applicants by making use of official platforms belonging to SASSA. Applicants should make sure that their permits are current and that the personal particulars with the Department of Home Affairs are identical before making an appeal.
A Continuing Exercise
SASSA says that review of SRD eligibility will be done monthly in the year 2026. The rule is the same: if both nationals and qualified foreign nationals continue to be beneficiaries, they must be able to meet all of the conditions to receive a payment each month.