SASSA SRD Grant and NSFAS in 2026: Can You Benefit From Both?

Understanding the Two Lifelines

Both the SASSA SRD grant and NSFAS help people in financial need, but they do not work the same way. In almost every situation, you cannot receive the SRD grant and NSFAS funding at the same time. This guide breaks everything down in simple language, covering who qualifies for each, why registration for one might block the other, and how SASSA grants can actually help you get NSFAS faster.

By the end of this guide, you will understand what to do in different real-life situations, whether you are in a gap year, currently studying, an unemployed graduate, or a social grant holder wanting to study further.

Quick Snapshot: SRD vs NSFAS

SRD Grant (R370)

• Amount: R370 per month
• Run by: SASSA
• Purpose: Short-term relief for unemployed adults with no other government income
• Age: 18–59 years
• Key rule: You may NOT be registered with NSFAS or receiving other government support (UIF, other SASSA social grants, etc.).

NSFAS Bursary

• Type: Full financial aid for higher education (tuition, accommodation, transport, allowances)
• Run by: NSFAS under the Department of Higher Education
• Income test (Standard): Household income ≤ R350,000 per year
• Income test (Disability): Household income ≤ R600,000 per year
• Bonus: If you get certain SASSA social grants (Child Support, Disability, Foster, etc.), you automatically meet the financial eligibility for NSFAS.

The Big Question: Can You Get SRD and NSFAS Together?

Why does this rule exist? SRD is intended for people with no other state financial support. NSFAS is already a significant package of government funding covering tuition, housing, and living allowances. Government policy avoids “double dipping” into two separate support systems for the same individual to ensure resources reach as many people as possible.

You can’t combine them at the same time – but you CAN use them at different stages of your life.

Where They Do Work Together Indirectly

Even though you can’t earn both together, the systems overlap in ways that can be very beneficial for students during different phases of their education.

Using SRD before you get NSFAS

If you are taking a gap year after matric, waiting for university or TVET admission, or are currently unemployed and not yet funded by NSFAS, you can apply for SRD. You must still meet the normal requirements, such as being unemployed and having income under the means test threshold.

SRD can help you pay for application fees, taxi fare to campus for open days or registration, internet access for online applications, and other basic survival costs while you hustle for educational opportunities. Once NSFAS approves and activates your funding, expect your SRD to stop – that is normal and follows the regulations.

Other SASSA Grants and NSFAS

It is crucial to note that SRD is the only SASSA grant that explicitly blocks NSFAS. If you receive other SASSA social grants—such as Child Support, Foster Child, Disability, or Care Dependency grants—you are actually favored financially in the NSFAS system.

NSFAS and SASSA guidelines state that beneficiaries of these specific grants automatically meet the financial eligibility for NSFAS. This is because SASSA has already verified that your household is in need. While you still need to hit the academic requirements (like APS and acceptance into a program), your financial standing is considered pre-verified, which can help you qualify faster.

SRD vs NSFAS: Side-by-Side Comparison

Real-Life Scenarios: What Should You Do?

Matriculant or Gap Year Student

If you are 18–24, at home, unemployed, and not studying yet, you need money for basic living and for applying to colleges. Apply for the SRD Grant immediately – you clearly qualify if you have no income. Use that R370 to fund applications and transport. When you secure a study place and NSFAS approves your funding, your SRD will stop, but NSFAS will cover your fees and accommodation, which is a much larger benefit.

Already Funded by NSFAS

If you are at a public university or TVET and your allowances are paid by NSFAS, times are likely still tough. However, if you apply for SRD now, SASSA will see “NSFAS registered” during their monthly checks. Your application will be declined. Instead of chasing SRD, focus on managing your NSFAS allowance wisely and look for campus-based part-time work or side hustles that do not clash with your studies.

Unemployed Graduate or Dropped Out

If you have completed your course or dropped out and your NSFAS funding has stopped, you are now unemployed and job-hunting. In this case, you may now qualify for SRD because you are no longer registered as a funded student. This is a common pattern: NSFAS during your study years and SRD during your “job-hunting” years if you are struggling to find employment.

SASSA Social Grant Holder Who Wants to Study

If you are a disabled student receiving a Disability Grant, or a parent receiving a Child Support Grant and want to study further, this is good news. Being a SASSA social grant beneficiary (other than SRD) actually helps your NSFAS financial eligibility. Policy states that you automatically meet the financial criteria. You still need to meet academic requirements and apply on time, but financially, the systems are designed to support you.

How to Apply for Each Without Confusion

Applying for the SRD Grant

Visit the official SRD site and enter your ID and cellphone number. Verify via the SMS OTP and fill in your details regarding income, residency, and bank choice. Tick the consent boxes allowing SASSA to check your data with banks, SARS, and NSFAS. Every month, SASSA checks if you are still unemployed, if your bank shows income above the threshold, or if you have recently registered for NSFAS or UIF. This is why your status might move from “Approved” to “Declined: NSFAS registered.”

Applying for NSFAS

Apply via the official NSFAS website during open application windows, which usually occur toward the end of the year for the following academic cycle. You will need your SA ID, parent/guardian income documents (or proof of SASSA grants), latest academic results, and proof of university application. If you are on a SASSA social grant (not SRD), make sure you tick that and upload proof to strengthen your case.

Appeals, Declines and Common Confusion

SRD Declined Because of NSFAS

If your SRD status says “Declined – NSFAS registered,” it means SASSA has matched your ID with NSFAS databases. From their perspective, you are already supported by government. You can submit an appeal if you believe NSFAS has actually stopped funding you or if there is a data error (such as someone else’s record linked to your ID). Appeal via the SRD appeals portal and provide clear proof or explanation.

NSFAS Declined Decisions

NSFAS may decline your application because household income is above the threshold, academic results are too low, or you have used up your N+1/N+2 funding years. If that happens and you are unemployed and struggling, you can then look at SRD as a fallback while you regroup and plan your next steps.

Smart Strategy: Navigating Systems Over Your Life

Think of SRD and NSFAS as different phases of your financial journey. A realistic path could look like this: before your studies, apply for SRD to survive and pay for applications and transport. During your student years, use NSFAS to fund your higher education and expect the SRD to stop once NSFAS is active. After your studies, if you are still unemployed and looking for a job, you can apply for SRD again as a survival bridge.

Key Takeaways