How Long does Sassa Pending Take?

The SASSA SRD grants provide monthly relief to eligible people of South Africa. If you have applied for the SASSA R350 grant and see a Pending Status on your application, you’ll need to wait 14 to 90 working days to see a change in that status. The reason behind this long delay is that SASSA carefully verifies your information against databases of departments of Home Affairs, Revenue Services, Unemployment Insurance Fund, and others. 

You can avoid any extra delays by giving your full and correct information and confirming to their terms and conditions. Applicants can also file a complaint on SASSA helpline or visit their office. Read this article for a complete overview of ​​how long does sassa pending take, the reasons behind the prolonged pending status, and tips to avoid it.

What Does SASSA ‘Pending Status’ Mean?

After applying for the SASSA / SRD relief, your application is given a status to help you track its progress. This status varies from Application Completed, Pending, Approved to Cancelled. Generally, the Pending Status on your SASSA application means that your provided information related to your identity, citizenship, and financial records are being verified.

Here are the three types of Pending Status you might find on the SRD portal:

How Long Does SASSA Pending Take to Change to Approved Status?

As you already know, the Pending Status is displayed when your application has not yet been approved, and your information is going through a screening process. Usually, applicants may expect their Pendings Status to change within 14 days, but this timeframe may increase to 3 weeks, a month, or even more.

SASSA suggests you to check your application status time and again within a span of one month. But you can also wait for 60-90 days before taking further action.

Types of Grants in South Africa: Social Grants Information 2025

Reasons Behind the Long Pending Status of SASSA Applications:

According to the recent data from a survey conducted by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), it’s found that 24 million people are receiving SASSA grants as of 2024. Surprisingly, the number of people benefiting from this social grant is increasing, as per BusinessTech, a leading South African news website. 

It shows that the SASSA team receives hundreds of SRD applications daily. Since they manually screen each new application, this is why your application may still be pending even after much time has passed.

Here’s the complete verification process that contributes to your SASSA Pending Status

1. Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Verification:

Firstly, the team confirms your identity with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). It’s done to verify that you’re a permanent resident, refuge, or permit holder in South Africa and eligible for the social grant. 

2. South African Revenue Services (SARS) Check:

Next, their team checks your ID card against South African Revenue Services (SARS) to review your income status and financial records. This step helps them decide if you should be given the grant and how much the amount should be (i.e., R350, R370).

3. Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Check:

The SASSA team also verify your ID with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to see if you’re receiving insurance or other unemployment benefits. If you’re found to be a beneficiary of such grants, then your application will become ineligible. 

4. National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS):

If you’re a student, then they also match your ID card with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) database to know if you’re getting any student aid or related funds. 

5. Other Social Grants Verification:

Finally, the SASSA team also checks your identity number against other social grant providers, including the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the National Credit Regulator (NCR). It’s done to verify if you are truly deserving of the SRD relief.

Therefore, the whole process can take longer than expected to complete. You’ll need to be patient while waiting to get a verdict on your application once it’s pending. 

Tips to Avoid Getting a Pending Status on Your Application: 

You can stop any unnecessary delays in your SRD application by following these three major tips: 

1. Give Complete Information

Make sure to provide your complete information when applying for the SASSA relief, including the following:

1. Personal Details (ID Card, Valid File Number, Passport)
2. Mobile Number (cell phone number)
3. Employment Information and Lifestyle Sustainability Information
4. Banking Information

If you don’t type your full details then this will slow down your application progress. For example, failing to add your bank account number will result in a ‘Bank Details Pending’ status,  requiring you to resubmit your information and wait additional days.

2. Avoid Misleading or Incorrect Information

Always give authentic information on your SRD application. Enter your name, surname, and ID number exactly as they appear on your South African ID card. All applications with wrong information will cause more delays and could be later declined. Luckily, you can reconfirm your details and correct any mistakes in your application.

3. Must Agree to Terms & Conditions

Must confirm that you have read and accepted the clauses mentioned in the Declaration and Consent Documents before sending your application to SASSA via the portal. Otherwise, it’ll affect your application process.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs):

1. How to Check My SASSA Application Status?

You can check your SASSA application status by going to SRD Website, selecting ‘South African ID Holders,’ then ‘Application Status.’ Once done,  enter your ID number and mobile number, and click ‘Submit.’

2. What Should I Do If My Application is Still Pending After 90 Days?

If your SRD application is still pending after 90 days have passed then you should contact SASSA helpline at 0800 601 011 or visit a nearby office. 

3. What Should I Do If My Application is Rejected After Being Pending?

If your application is declined after a long waiting period, then you should lodge an appeal. To do this, go to the SRD website, select ‘South African ID Holders,’ then choose ‘Lodging an Appeal’ and complete the further process on the DSD Appeals website. After this, you can check your reconsideration status to confirm whether your appeal has been accepted or not.

4.  Can I Reapply for SRD Grant? 

Yes, you can request reinstatement through the SRD official website. This facility is useful for previous beneficiaries of SASSA.

5. Is SASSA Pending Status a Sign of Rejection?

No, a pending status simply means that your information is being screened by SASSA, which can take some time. If your application is rejected, you’ll see ‘Declined’ on your application status. 

6. How to File a Complaint Against Long Pending Status?