The South African government has confirmed plans to replace the SRD R370 grant with a new Livelihoods Support Grant from April 2027. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the proposal in the State of the Nation Address in February 2026, and public consultation closed on 30 April 2026 with over 45,000 submissions received.
The formal payment amount and implementation details are expected to be confirmed at the October 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). Until then, the SRD R370 continues as normal — existing beneficiaries do not need to take any action.
What Is Different About the New Grant
The Livelihoods Support Grant is designed to move away from a passive cash transfer model toward active labour market participation. For a full feature-by-feature comparison of the SRD R370 and the proposed Livelihoods Support Grant, see the Livelihoods Grant guide.
What “Registration as a Work-Seeker” Means
The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) manages a national work-seeker database. Registration is free and can be done:
- Online at the DEL’s Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) system
- At any Labour Centre office
Advocates have raised concerns that linking the grant to DEL registration and training participation could exclude people in areas with poor access to government services. These objections were included in the public consultation submissions.
What Happens to Existing SRD Beneficiaries
- The SRD R370 continues to pay until March 2027 — the government has confirmed this
- SASSA has not indicated automatic migration; a new application process is likely
- No income threshold for the new grant has been published yet
Nothing changes for now. Keep checking your SRD status at srd.sassa.gov.za as normal. This website will publish the October 2026 MTBPS details as soon as they are confirmed.
