Social Relief of Distress Grant in South Africa - SASSA

Important: This website is not affiliated to SASSA. Below information is for informational purposes only. Detailed official information on Social Grants you can find on the official SASSA website mentioned on this page.

Social Relief of Distress Grant

The Social Relief of Distress Grant is administered by your local SASSA office (South African Social Security Agency).

The Social relief of distress grant is a temporary allocation of assistance in the form of goods, services or money for people who are in a major situation of distress unable to meet most basic needs.

Social Relief of Distress is given to recipients usually for a short time only (1 to 3 months). In some exceptional cases the grant may be extended for another 3 months.


Financial Requirements

Financial requirements for a Social Relief of Distress grant are on case by case basis.

Social relief of distress could be given in the following situations:

- you are in a desperate situation while you do not qualify for a grant
- a disaster has occurred (for example your house has burnt down)
- you are medically unfit and are unable to work for a period of less than 6 months
- your childrens grants are not yet processed and you need help
- the breadwinner in the family has died or has been sent to prison for less than 6 months
- the other parent of your child is unable to give maintenance
- you have been affected by a disaster, but the area you live has not been declared a disaster area


More Information on Social Relief of Distress Grant

Visit the official website of SASSA: www.sassa.gov.za

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

During the emergency period in South Africa as a result of the coronavirus / covid-19, changes may occur in the opening times of the South African Social Security offices.

Other Grants:

Child Support
 Social Relief of Distress
 Disability

Foster Child
 Older Persons/Senior Citizen
 Grant-In-Aid

Care Dependency
 Veterans Grant


SASSA Locations:

Eastern Cape
 Free State
 Gauteng

Kwazulu Natal
 Limpopo
 Mpumalanga

North West
 Northern Cape
 Western Cape