SRD R370 Grant Application For Asylum Seekers & Refugees

A day before World Refugee Day on June 19, 2020, the Western Cape High Court, Cape Town opened the way of financial support for over half a Million Asylum Seekers, Special Permit Holders, and Refugees in South Africa. Government allowed them to apply for the SRD R370 (formerly R350) grant. Before this, they were not eligible to apply due to expired documents.

SASSA SRD R370 Grant Application For Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Asylum Seekers and Refugees in South Africa can apply for this grant through the SASSA official website.

I will break down the whole application process into easy steps, describe the eligibility criteria for the R370 grant, and explain the precautions to follow. Let’s read the blog.

Eligibility Criteria for SRD R370 Grant for Refugee or Asylum Seeker

Before applying for an SRD 370 grant as a refugee or asylum seeker, you should know the following eligibility requirements:

If you have a valid Section 22 permit or visa in South Africa, you are eligible for a R370 social grant as a refugee or asylum seeker.
You need to live permanently in South Africa to qualify and receive this grant.
An individual aged between 18 and 60 years is eligible to apply for this grant.
To qualify for this grant as a refugee or asylum seeker, you should not have permanent employment or substantial financial resources.
You do not qualify for this grant if you get any other social grant, such as Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) payments, except the SASSA Child Support Grant.
To apply for this grant you will go through a means test to ensure that your monthly income and assets fall under the SASSA R624 threshold.
The applicant receiving stipends from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is not eligible for the R370 grant.
You must have your Asylum Seeker File Number, Special Permit Holder passport number, or an active cellphone number.
You should not be part of any illegal activity as per government records.
Not receiving any other government support.
You should not be living in any government-funded or subsidized organization.

Grant Eligibility with Expired Documents of Refugees

According to the decision of Western Cape High Court, Cape Town on June 19, 2020, Asylum Seekers, Special Permit Holders, and Refugees with visas valid on March 15, 2020, whose documents expired during the COVID-19 lockdown are eligible for the SRD R370 grant.

SRD R370 Application Process for Asylum Seekers, Special Permit Holders and Refugees

If you qualify the criteria for the R370 grant as a refugee or asylum seeker, then follow these simple steps to apply for this grant:

Step 1: Go to the SASSA Official Website

Get started by opening the SASSA official website by visiting this https://srd.sassa.gov.za/.

Step 2: Select “Asylum Seekers and Special Permit Holders” Option

Next, after opening the website, you will see two yellow “click here to proceed” buttons at the bottom of the page. Go with the heading “Asylum Seekers and Special Permit Holders.”

Step 3: Enter your Phone Number to Apply

On the next page, you will see a yellow button again: “Click here to apply online.” After clicking, a section will open. Enter your SASSA registered phone number and click the “Send SMS” button.

Step 4: Receive the OTP Code in the SMS

You will get an OTP in the SMS. Enter this OTP in the box and click the “Verify Pin” button.

Step 5: Read and Agree to Declaration Forms

After verifying the OTP, you will see the declaration and consent forms on the website mentioning SASSA grant qualification requirements and associated terms and conditions. Thoroughly read them. After that, you will get two options:

Yes: Choose the yes option to agree to all the terms and conditions and continue your application.
No: Select this option if you do not agree with the terms and conditions. Your application process will end here

Step 6: Fill out the Application Form

If you agree to the terms and conditions, fill out the SRD R370 grant application form with the following information:

Your Full Name and Surname are mentioned in the Identity document.
Your identity number or Refugee or Asylum Seeker Number is given by the Department of Home Affairs.
Gender
Disability (If any)
Email Address
Date of Birth
Status of Citizenship
Expiry
Origin
Contact details (Cell phone number).
Residential Address

Precautions to Follow While Applying for an SRD Grant

Please keep in mind these precautions while applying for the SRD 370 grant:

Apply for an SRD grant through the official SASSA website only.
Do not get the service of any agent for this purpose. Instead, apply by yourself for the security of your personal information.
Avoid giving anyone access to your SASSA account except closed family members.
If you do not get a response from SASSA after 2 weeks of application submission, contact their helpline: 0800 60 10 11
Regularly check grant transaction notifications on your phone from your bank and contact SASSA for any suspicious activity.
After applying, regularly check your SMS notifications to receive an update on the SASSA grant.

Conclusion

To sum up, asylum seekers and refugees in South Africa can now apply for the SRD R370 grant. By meeting the eligibility requirements and following the easy steps on the official SASSA website, they can access much-needed financial support. Make sure to apply securely and stay updated on any notifications from SASSA.

FAQs:

Yes, if your documents were valid on March 15, 2020, and expired during the lockdown, you are eligible to apply for the SRD R370 grant.

If you don’t get a response within 2 weeks, contact SASSA’s helpline at 0800 60 10 11 for assistance.

No, it is recommended to apply directly through the official SASSA website to protect your personal information. Avoid using agents.

You need your Asylum Seeker File Number, Special Permit Holder passport number, and an active cellphone number to apply.

Apply for SRD R370 Grant as an Asylum Seeker or Refugee

Eligibility Criteria for SRD R370 Grant for Refugee or Asylum Seeker

Grant Eligibility with Expired Documents of Refugees