Is the R700 SASSA Grant Real?
A message claiming that applications are open for a new R700 SASSA grant has spread across WhatsApp and social media. It is a scam. SASSA publicly denied that any R700 grant exists. The real SRD grant is R370 a month.
Verdict
No – the R700 grant is fake
What the fake message says
The message usually announces a ‘new R700 grant for 2026’, tells you that ‘applications are now open’, and pushes you to ‘register now’ through a link. Some versions promise back-pay or a once-off R700 boost. The wording changes, but the goal is always the same: get you to click a link and hand over your ID number, cellphone number and banking details.
Why there is no R700 grant
SASSA and the Department of Social Development announce grant changes through official government channels, not through forwarded WhatsApp messages. No R700 grant has been introduced. The SRD grant remains R370 a month, and the other grants (Older Persons, Disability, Child Support and so on) have their own set amounts. Any message inventing a brand-new grant amount is bait.
What the scammers are really after
The ‘register’ link leads to a fake page built to look like srd.sassa.gov.za. Anything you type there – your ID, phone number, or banking details – goes straight to criminals, who use it to hijack your real grant or your bank account. Some versions also ask for a small ‘activation fee’ or airtime voucher.
Red flags to watch for
- Announces a grant amount that does not exist (R700).
- Tells you to ‘register now’ through a link, especially a domain that does not end in sassa.gov.za.
- Asks for your ID, banking details or an ‘activation fee’.
- Uses urgency – ‘applications close soon’, ‘limited slots’.
General guidance only. Reviewed: July 2026.
