SRD grant recipient grateful for every rand, but one problem remains at home

A young Gauteng woman says she is thankful for her Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, even though it cannot keep hunger at bay in her household.

The woman, aged 25, shared her story in The South African’s SASSA grant survey and asked to remain anonymous. She holds a trade qualification, is unemployed and looking for work.

SRD grant helps, but not enough

She has received the SRD grant for less than a year. The payment goes into her bank account each month, and she spreads it across a mix of essentials.

Even with careful budgeting, she says the grant helps but it is not enough. She runs out of money before the month ends, and someone in her household went without food in the past month.

Her biggest financial concern is unemployment. With experience in domestic and cleaning work, she says she is willing to relocate anywhere for a job.

‘It really helps us out’

Despite the hardship, the recipient wanted to send a message of thanks.

“Thank you for the R370 that we get…it really helps us out,” she said.

Her experience with SASSA has been straightforward. She reports no problems with her grant and rates the agency’s communication with recipients as adequate.

Still, if she could change one thing about SASSA, she would increase the grant amount.

Unaware of other support

Like many grant recipients, she has never applied for additional government support. She says she did not know what else was available to her.

This gap leaves many SRD recipients relying on a single small payment when they may qualify for other forms of help, such as employment programmes, skills training or food relief.

For now, the SRD grant remains a small but important lifeline. It keeps her going while she searches for work, but it cannot fill every plate in her home.

Her story mirrors that of many young South Africans with skills and qualifications who are ready to work, ready to move, and grateful for every rand while they wait for an opportunity to change their circumstances.

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