SRD Grant Is NOT Ending — R370 Confirmed to Continue and Here's What's Changing
Last updated: 18 February 2026
Official confirmation: Eligible beneficiaries will keep receiving payments without interruption from (April 2026 to March 2027) and the future of the grant is bigger than many expected
Millions of South Africans have been anxiously asking the same question as March approaches: is the SRD grant ending? The answer is no and the latest government announcements reveal a future for this grant that goes far beyond what most beneficiaries were hoping for.
Here is the full picture.
March 2026: Your R370 Is Safe
Let's deal with the most pressing concern first. The SRD R370 grant is not ending in March 2026. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana officially confirmed an extension of the grant through March 2027 during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in November 2025. The government has allocated R37.5 billion to fund the grant, this money is set aside, the decision is made, and nothing has changed.
If you are a currently approved and eligible beneficiary, your R370 payment will continue from March 2026 without any interruption, without any new requirements, and without any additional steps on your part.
✅ Confirmed: The SRD R370 extension to March 2027 is official, budgeted, and in effect. Eligible beneficiaries continue receiving payments as normal.
Budget Speech Is Eight Days Away — Here's What to Expect
With the National Budget Speech scheduled for Wednesday, 25 February 2026, the next major development for the SRD grant is just days away.
Finance Minister Godongwana will formally confirm the grant's continuation within the national budget. Importantly, the Finance Minister has already indicated ahead of the speech that there will be no increase to the R370 amount, the grant will remain at R370 per month.
This is a detail worth noting for beneficiaries who were hoping for an increase in line with rising living costs. Civil society groups have long argued that R370 is insufficient, but as of now, the official position from National Treasury is that the amount stays unchanged.
We will update this article immediately following the Budget Speech on 25 February with any new developments or changes announced.
The Even Bigger News: SRD to Continue Beyond 2027
Just five days ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa stood before Parliament at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 12 February 2026 and delivered an announcement that millions of grant-dependent South Africans had been waiting years to hear.
The SRD grant will continue beyond March 2027.
"As a transformative instrument to improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable people, this grant will be continued," President Ramaphosa told a packed National Assembly.
For context, understand what this means. Since the SRD grant was first introduced in May 2020, the government has consistently described it as a "temporary" measure. Every extension has come with an expiry date that left beneficiaries uncertain about their financial future. That uncertainty, for the first time, has been officially addressed at the highest level of government.
It is important to be clear, however: whilst the Presidential commitment is firm, the specific details of what the grant will look like beyond 2027 have not yet been announced. What is known is that the grant will undergo a redesign and that redesign will change its character significantly.
What the Redesign Means
President Ramaphosa confirmed that the SRD grant will be redesigned in 2026, shifting from a pure cash payment system to a programme linked to:
- Skills development and training opportunities
- Employment pathways and work programmes
- Productive economic participation
In plain terms, the government wants to use the grant as a bridge not just providing R370 to survive on, but connecting beneficiaries to opportunities that can move them beyond needing the grant at all. Whether this vision will be effectively implemented remains to be seen, but the intention represents a fundamental shift in how South Africa's government views social relief for the working-age unemployed.
Full details on how the redesigned programme will operate, whether current beneficiaries will need to reapply, and what the new amount might look like are expected to emerge throughout 2026. The Budget Speech on 25 February will be the first opportunity for further clarity.
What This All Means for You
Cut through the policy language and here is what matters for beneficiaries right now:
- This month: Your R370 continues. Check your status after the 20th for your specific payment date
- March 2026: Grant continues. No disruption. No new application required
- Through March 2027: Fully funded, officially extended, confirmed at R370
- After March 2027: Grant will not end, it will transition into a redesigned programme
- 25 February 2026: Budget Speech may bring further details, this page will be updated immediately
SASSA has not yet communicated any changes to the monthly application or verification process. Until an official SASSA announcement is made, continue checking your status every month as normal.
📌 Check Your SRD Status: Your payment date is assigned individually each month. Check your status after the 20th to see your specific payment date for this month. Check Your SRD Status Here →
Five Years of "Temporary"
The SRD was introduced in May 2020 as an emergency COVID-19 relief measure for unemployed South Africans who did not qualify for existing SASSA grants.
Throughout this period, civil society organisations including the Black Sash consistently campaigned for the grant to be made permanent.
The confirmed extension to March 2027 and the Presidential commitment beyond that represent the strongest signal yet that South Africa has accepted permanent income support.
Key Dates to Watch
- 25 February 2026: National Budget Speech
- Throughout 2026: SASSA redesign updates
- March 2027: Redesigned programme expected
This article will be updated immediately following the Budget Speech on 25 February 2026.