No, the New Grant Is Not Active Yet: Here's What SASSA Has Actually Confirmed
Government is building a new basic income grant for South Africa to replace the R370 SRD grant. It is not open for applications yet. Here is what has actually been confirmed, and what is still just talk.
1. What is South Africa's new basic income grant
South Africa's new basic income grant, officially called Basic Income Support (BIS), is a planned monthly payment from the Department of Social Development, designed to permanently replace the R370 SRD grant. Unlike the SRD, it is being built as a jobseeker's grant, tied to looking for work.
The idea of a basic income grant for South Africa is not new. Proposals go back to 2002, when the Taylor Committee first recommended a universal income grant to tackle structural poverty. What is new is that government now has a working draft policy, built on top of the SRD grant that has run since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of Social Development first put a draft BIS policy to Cabinet in November 2024. Cabinet sent it back, asking for a stronger link between the grant and employment. The department finished additional research in February 2026 and has since been consulting the National Treasury on funding.
2. When will the basic income grant start
The Department of Social Development is aiming to finalise the basic income grant policy by March 2027. If that target holds, the legislative process to amend the Social Assistance Act would only start in the 2027/28 financial year.
That means, realistically, there is no chance of the new grant paying out before some point in 2027 at the very earliest, and possibly later. Members of Parliament have already raised concerns about the pace. A DA MP called the March 2027 target "a long time away" and asked how the department could submit a policy without proper costing. An MK Party MP said people were going hungry while government deliberated.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| November 2024 | First draft policy sent to Cabinet, then returned for further work |
| February 2026 | Additional research and institutional design work completed |
| March 2026 | National Treasury consultations confirmed to begin |
| June 2026 | Treasury engagements expected to conclude; updated draft sent for review |
| August 2026 | Cabinet asked to approve the draft for public comment |
| March 2027 (target) | Final policy due to go back to Cabinet for approval |
| 2027/28 financial year | Legislative process to amend the Social Assistance Act would begin |
Last updated: 31 August 2026, based on the most recent parliamentary briefings from the Department of Social Development.
3. How much the basic income grant might pay
No official amount has been published. The final benefit value is still under discussion between the Department of Social Development and National Treasury, so any specific rand figure you see quoted elsewhere is a guess.
What we do know is the budget picture around it. In the 2026 budget, government set aside R36.4 billion to keep paying the current R370 SRD grant until 31 March 2027. Beyond that date, the medium-term budget shows SRD-linked funding dropping sharply, to around R1.7 billion and then R1.2 billion in the following two years, which lines up with money shifting toward the new grant structure instead.
If you want a straight answer for budgeting purposes: plan around the current R370 SRD amount for now, and treat anything above that as unconfirmed.
4. Who is likely to qualify
Final eligibility rules have not been announced. Early indications suggest the new grant will target unemployed, working-age adults, likely between 18 and 59, largely the same group currently receiving the SRD grant.
The key difference from the SRD grant is the employment link. Officials have said measures will be put in place "to ensure that they can be graduated to other economic opportunities," meaning recipients may need to show they are job hunting, in training, or working toward some form of income-generating activity.
5. SRD grant vs the new basic income grant
The SRD grant is a temporary R370 monthly payment introduced in 2020. The new basic income grant is the permanent, structured replacement being designed to succeed it, with stronger conditions around jobseeking.
| Feature | SRD Grant (current) | Basic Income Grant (proposed) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active, extended to March 2027 | In policy development |
| Amount | R370 per month | Not yet confirmed |
| Nature | Temporary Covid-era relief | Permanent, structured support |
| Conditions | Income and means test only | Expected link to jobseeking activity |
| Application | Online through SASSA | No process exists yet |
6. The court case that could change everything
The Supreme Court of Appeal is set to hear an appeal on a January 2025 High Court ruling that found the SRD grant system unconstitutional for excluding millions of eligible people.
The High Court pointed to the online-only application process, flawed bank verification, and a broken appeals system as the main problems. Rather than fix these issues, government chose to appeal the ruling. Campaigners argue the department is using administrative barriers and budget caps to avoid its constitutional duty to provide social assistance, and that the R370 SRD amount itself is inadequate, sitting well below the R855 food poverty line.
The outcome matters beyond the SRD grant. If the Supreme Court of Appeal upholds the High Court finding, it could shape how strict or lenient the eligibility and verification rules for the future basic income grant are allowed to be.
7. Why this matters: South Africa's grant dependency
A recent Ipsos poll found that 40% of South Africans depend on government grants to survive, with the SRD grant now the second most common form of grant after the Child Support Grant.
Together, the Child Support Grant and SRD grant reach 77% of all grant recipients in the country. Dependency is highest among young people: 34% of South Africans aged 18 to 24 receive a grant, and of those, 73% rely on the SRD as their main or only income. Grant reliance is also higher in rural areas (50%) than in metros (34%), and higher in North West province than anywhere else in the country.
This context explains why the new grant is being designed the way it is. Government is trying to move people off open-ended cash relief and toward income support that is tied to a path back into work, without cutting off the safety net that millions of households in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and elsewhere currently depend on.
8. What to do while you wait
Keep your current SRD grant details updated with SASSA, ignore anyone claiming you can apply for the new grant now, and be cautious about taking on credit to cover the gap while the policy is finalised.
- Check your SASSA banking and ID details are correct so you do not lose your current R370 payment.
- Bookmark our SASSA payment dates page and check it monthly rather than relying on social media.
- If your SRD application was previously rejected, review the appeals process rather than assuming you are permanently excluded.
- If money is tight in the meantime, compare the difference between good debt and bad debt before borrowing to cover a shortfall.
- If you are already struggling with repayments, look at whether debt review or getting out of debt review applies to your situation before it gets worse.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Basic Income Grant in South Africa
There is no confirmed start date yet. The Department of Social Development aims to finalise the policy by March 2027, after which the legislative process to amend the Social Assistance Act would begin in the 2027/28 financial year, so realistically no payout is likely before some point in 2027 at the earliest.
The exact amount has not been published. Final benefit values are still under discussion between the Department of Social Development and National Treasury, so any amount you see quoted online is a guess, not an official figure.
As of August 2026, the department has finished research and institutional design work and is finalising Treasury engagements, with Cabinet expected to be asked to approve the draft for public comment. MPs have publicly criticised the pace, and the department has said it may need to extend the current SRD grant again if the new policy is not ready by March 2027.
Final eligibility rules are not confirmed, but this is not a universal basic income paid to every citizen. Early discussions point to working-age adults, likely between 18 and 59, who are currently unemployed and receiving the SRD grant.
No, there is no application process because the basic income grant does not exist yet. If you currently qualify for support, you can only apply for the existing SRD grant through SASSA.
No. The SRD grant is the temporary R370 payment introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The basic income grant is the permanent replacement policy being built to succeed it, with a stronger link to jobseeking and training.
Not immediately. The current extension of the SRD grant runs until 31 March 2027, and government has said it may need to extend it again if the new grant policy is not ready in time.
The policy was first sent to Cabinet in November 2024 and was returned for further work, particularly to strengthen the link between the grant and employment opportunities. Ongoing negotiations with National Treasury over funding have also slowed the process, and MPs have publicly criticised the pace.
The Supreme Court of Appeal is due to hear an appeal on a January 2025 High Court ruling that found the SRD system unconstitutional for excluding millions of eligible people. The case centres on the online-only application process, bank verification problems, and a flawed appeals system.
Yes, this is the central design feature. Unlike the SRD grant, the new policy links recipients to employment-seeking activities and other livelihood opportunities, so that working-age recipients are not expected to depend on it indefinitely.
A universal basic income pays every citizen regardless of employment status or income. South Africa's proposed Basic Income Support grant is targeted, not universal. It is aimed at working-age adults who are unemployed, and it comes with conditions related to jobseeking.
The Department of Social Development and SASSA are the official sources for confirmed updates. We recommend checking our SASSA payment dates page regularly, since we update it as government makes new announcements.
Keep your SRD grant application and banking details up to date so you do not lose your current payments, and be careful of any website or social media post claiming you can apply for the new grant now. If money is tight in the meantime, compare your options carefully before taking on any credit.