SASSA's SRD grant: Foreign national eligibility clarified
SASSA has clarified who is eligible to receive the Covid-19 SRD grant after claims were made on social media about new rules.
Image: South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has rejected claims circulating on social media that the eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant have been changed to allow foreign nationals to access the benefit.
The agency stressed that no regulations or policies have been amended.
SASSA emphasised that under the COVID-19 SRD regulations published in 2022, the grant is and has been available to:
- South African citizens
- Permanent residents
- Refugees
- Asylum seekers with valid section 22 permits or visas
- Holders of special permits issued under the Angolan Dispensation, Lesotho Exemption Permit Dispensation, or Zimbabwean Exemption Permit Dispensation
Applicants must also be registered on the Department of Home Affairs database or SASSA’s social grant system, be between the ages of 18 and 60, reside in South Africa, not live in a government-funded institution, and not unreasonably refuse employment or educational opportunities.
In a media statement, SASSA described the social media claims as “incorrect” and “misleading,” warning that the misinformation could create confusion among grant beneficiaries and the public.
The agency clarified that no updates have been made to allow asylum seekers or special permit holders to access funds unlawfully.
SASSA noted that no changes to the COVID-19 SRD grant were announced by the Minister of Finance during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement or by the Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Nokuzola Tolashe, during her Budget Vote Speech.
Responsibility for any changes to social assistance policy rests with National Treasury and the Department of Social Development, neither of which has announced amendments to the regulations.
SASSA CEO Themba Matlou urged the public to stop spreading false information, cautioning that it could heighten social tension.
“We wish to categorically state that no regulations have been amended nor has the eligibility criteria changed,” said Matlou. He added that any future changes would be formally communicated through the appropriate channels. “Should there be any changes in our regulations, that will be announced by the Minister of Social Development, and the amended regulations will thus be published,” he said.
The agency disclosed that as of 1 January 2026, it had received 14,135 COVID-19 SRD applications from permanent residents, refugees, and special permit holders. Of these, 8,368 applications were approved, and 2,690 were paid.
Matlou reiterated SASSA’s mandate to provide assistance to those most in need, stating that the agency remains committed to executing its responsibilities “in line with the Social Assistance Act of 2004 and relevant regulations.”
The public was urged to verify information through official SASSA and government platforms before sharing it.
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