Means Test and Eligibility — What Is Checked, What the Thresholds Are and How To Qualify in 2026
What the Means Test Is
The SASSA means test is the income and asset assessment SASSA uses to determine whether an applicant qualifies financially for a social grant. It sets the maximum income and in some cases the maximum asset value a person or household can have while still qualifying for a specific grant. The means test thresholds differ across grant types. SRD uses a simpler income-only check while other grants use more detailed assessments covering both income and assets. Understanding what is checked for your specific grant helps you apply correctly and anticipate why a decline may have occurred.
Why the Means Test Matters for Your Application
SASSA cannot approve a grant application without first confirming that the applicant falls within the financial thresholds set for that grant. If your income or assets exceed the threshold for the assessed period, your application will be declined even if you meet all other eligibility requirements.
For SRD specifically, the means test is applied monthly. Your income is re-checked every month against multiple government databases. A month where a database detects income above the threshold results in a decline for that specific month even if other months are approved.
Understanding the means test also helps you understand why certain database matches trigger declines. When SASSA finds a UIF registration, an IRP5 record, or a government payroll match, it is the means test that converts that database finding into a decline because those records suggest income above the SRD threshold.
SRD R370 Eligibility Criteria
The SRD R370 grant has a specific set of eligibility requirements that must all be met for a month to be approved.
Age. You must be between 18 and 59 years old. Applicants aged 60 and older qualify for the Older Persons Grant and are therefore excluded from SRD.
Nationality and residence. You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee with a valid refugee status permit. You must be resident in South Africa.
Income threshold. Your monthly income must not exceed R624 per month, which is equivalent to the food poverty line. This threshold is checked through automated cross-checks against SARS, UIF, government payroll, NSFAS, and other databases.
No existing SASSA grant. You must not already be receiving another SASSA grant. If you receive any other SASSA grant you do not qualify for SRD.
No alternative government support. You must not be receiving financial support through other government programmes such as UIF, NSFAS, government employee pension, or the various relief programmes that trigger specific SRD decline reasons.
Not in a government facility. You must not be a resident in a government facility such as a correctional facility, state psychiatric hospital, or government old age home during the assessed month.
Not SETA intern or similar programme participant. You must not be receiving a stipend or financial support through a SETA programme, sport relief scheme, farmer relief programme, spaza shop relief programme, or similar government-administered support scheme.
How SASSA Checks Income for SRD
SASSA does not rely on self-declared income for SRD. The monthly assessment cross-checks your ID number against multiple official databases to detect income sources automatically.
SARS database. SASSA checks whether your ID number is registered with SARS as having taxable income. An IRP5 record indicating employment income during the assessed period can trigger a decline even if the employment ended.
UIF database. SASSA checks whether you are registered as a UIF contributor. Active UIF contributions indicate formal employment and earnings above the SRD threshold.
Government payroll database. SASSA checks whether your ID number appears on any national or provincial government payroll for the assessed month.
NSFAS database. NSFAS registration is treated as evidence of financial support that may exceed the SRD threshold.
Programme-specific databases. SASSA also checks the various relief programme databases covering SETA internships, sport relief, farmer relief, spaza shop relief, debt relief, and others. Participation in any of these programmes is treated as income or financial support that affects SRD eligibility.
Bank account activity. In some cases SASSA cross-checks banking data for evidence of regular deposits that suggest income above the threshold.
The key insight for SRD applicants is that these are automated database checks. They detect records and registrations, not always actual current income. An outdated record, a registration that was not closed, or a record from a previous period can trigger a decline even if you are not currently receiving any income.
Means Test Thresholds for Other SASSA Grants
Other SASSA grants use a more detailed means test that checks both income and assets. The thresholds apply to the applicant and in some cases their spouse.
Older Persons Grant means test.
Single applicant: annual income must not exceed R92,568 per year. For a married couple: combined annual income must not exceed R185,136 per year.
Assets are also assessed. Single applicant: assets must not exceed R1,227,600. Married couple: combined assets must not exceed R2,455,200.
Disability Grant means test.
The same income and asset thresholds as the Older Persons Grant apply. Single applicant annual income threshold R92,568, married couple R185,136. Asset thresholds are the same.
Child Support Grant means test.
The primary caregiver’s income is assessed. Urban areas: monthly income must not exceed R4,800 for a single caregiver or R9,600 for a married couple. Rural areas: monthly income must not exceed R3,360 for a single caregiver or R6,720 for a married couple. No asset test applies to the Child Support Grant.
Foster Child Grant.
The Foster Child Grant does not have a means test. It is based on the court order placing the child in foster care rather than on the income of the foster parent.
Care Dependency Grant.
The same income and asset thresholds as the Older Persons Grant apply to the caregiver.
Grant-in-Aid.
No separate means test applies. The primary grant recipient must already qualify for the Older Persons, Disability, or War Veteran’s Grant.
What Counts as Income for the Means Test
For SRD the income threshold is R624 per month. The following types of income are considered:
Employment income whether formal or informal. Any salary, wage, or payment for work performed.
Government grants and benefits including UIF payments, NSFAS allowances, government pension, and other government financial support.
Business income from any business activity including informal trading.
Rental income from property.
Investment income including interest from savings accounts, dividends, and other investment returns.
Regular financial contributions from family members. This is an area of complexity because informal family support such as a parent sending money for living expenses can in some cases be detected through banking transaction patterns during cross-checks.
For other grants the income definition is broader and includes pension income, annuities, rental income, interest, dividends, and any other regular financial receipts.
What Does Not Count as Income for the Means Test
Understanding what is excluded from the income calculation is equally important.
For SRD, income below R624 per month is within the threshold and does not disqualify you. The issue is not whether you have any income but whether the detected income exceeds the threshold.
Irregular or once-off payments are not supposed to count as ongoing income, but they can trigger flags in database cross-checks. If a once-off payment was detected in a specific month’s cross-check, that month may be declined even though it does not represent ongoing income. This is one of the most common sources of incorrect SRD declines and is a valid basis for appeal with appropriate evidence.
The Child Support Grant received by a caregiver is not counted as income for the purposes of assessing the caregiver’s eligibility for the Child Support Grant itself.
How To Assess Your Own Eligibility Before Applying
Before applying for any SASSA grant, work through the following checklist for the relevant grant.
For SRD: confirm you are between 18 and 59, a South African citizen or qualifying resident, not receiving any other SASSA grant, not employed or receiving UIF, NSFAS, or any government programme support, and that your monthly income from all sources is below R624.
For the Older Persons Grant: confirm you are 60 or older, a South African citizen or qualifying resident, and that your annual income and assets fall within the thresholds above.
For the Disability Grant: confirm you have a medically assessed permanent or temporary disability, are between 18 and 59 years old, and meet the income and asset thresholds above. Note that the disability must be assessed by a SASSA-approved medical officer.
For the Child Support Grant: confirm you are the primary caregiver of a child under 18, a South African citizen or qualifying resident, and that your monthly income falls within the urban or rural threshold for your area.
What To Do If You Believe Your Means Test Result Is Incorrect
If you believe you were declined because a database record incorrectly shows income or programme participation that does not apply to you for the assessed month, you have grounds to appeal.
The key is month-specific evidence. You need official written confirmation from the organisation whose record triggered the decline, specifically confirming that you were not a participant or recipient during the assessed month. Pair this with a bank statement for the same month showing no income deposit from that source.
For SRD specifically, go to our SRD Declined hub and find the page for the specific decline reason shown on your portal. Each decline page has detailed evidence guidance and a copy-paste email template for contacting the relevant administrator.
For other grants, contact SASSA on 0800 60 10 11 to request a formal review of your means test assessment.
Copy and Paste Template for Means Test Review Request
Subject: Means Test Review Request — [Your ID Number] — [Grant Type] — [Month Year]
Message:
Dear SASSA,
I am writing to request a review of the means test assessment applied to my [SRD R370 / Older Persons Grant / Disability Grant / Child Support Grant] application for [Month Year]. I believe the income or asset assessment applied to my application does not accurately reflect my financial circumstances for the assessed period.
Full name: [Your full name as on your ID] ID number: [Your 13-digit ID number] Grant type: [Grant type] Month in question: [Month and Year] Reason for review request: [Brief description of why you believe the assessment is incorrect]
Please advise on what evidence is required to support a review of this assessment and the process for submitting it.
Thank you.
Scam Awareness Around Eligibility and Means Test
Scammers frequently target people who have been declined on eligibility grounds by claiming they can manipulate the means test result or remove income records from government databases for a fee.
No private person or service has access to SARS, UIF, Department of Home Affairs, or SASSA’s internal databases. Income records and database entries can only be corrected through the official process with the relevant government organisation. Anyone claiming they can remove an income record or guarantee grant approval by manipulating your means test is a scammer.
SASSA services and grant applications are completely free.
Summary: SASSA Means Test and Eligibility at a Glance
The means test checks your income and in some cases your assets against grant-specific thresholds. SRD uses an income-only check with a R624 monthly threshold applied through automated database cross-checks. Other grants use broader income and asset assessments with higher thresholds. If a database record incorrectly shows income or programme participation, appeal with month-specific evidence from the relevant administrator. Go to our SRD Declined hub for specific guidance on each decline reason.
SASSA Means Test and Eligibility FAQs
What is the income threshold for SRD in 2026? The SRD income threshold is R624 per month, equivalent to the food poverty line. If SASSA’s database cross-checks detect income above this amount for the assessed month, the application is declined for that month.
Does SASSA check my actual bank account for SRD? SASSA uses automated cross-checks against government databases including SARS, UIF, government payroll, and programme-specific databases rather than directly accessing your bank account in all cases. However banking data can be used in some cross-checks. The primary method is database matching rather than direct bank account inspection.
I earn a small amount from informal work. Does this disqualify me from SRD? If your monthly income from all sources including informal work is below R624, you remain within the SRD threshold. If it exceeds R624, you do not qualify for the months where that income was detected. The challenge is that informal income is not always detectable through automated database checks so it may not always trigger a decline even if technically above the threshold.
My income varies month to month. How does SRD handle this? SRD is assessed monthly. Months where your detected income is below R624 may be approved. Months where a database check detects income above R624 may be declined. This can result in some months being approved and others declined depending on what the cross-checks detect for each specific period.
What assets are counted for the Older Persons Grant means test? The asset assessment includes property other than your primary residence, vehicles, savings and investments, and other valuables. Your primary home is generally excluded from the asset calculation. The asset threshold for a single applicant is R1,227,600.
I receive the Child Support Grant. Does this count as income for the SRD means test? Yes. Receiving another SASSA grant disqualifies you from SRD entirely. If you receive the Child Support Grant as a caregiver, you do not qualify for SRD. This is a separate eligibility rule from the income threshold.
My UIF record shows an old job that I no longer have. Can I still qualify for SRD? If the UIF record has not been properly closed after your employment ended, it may continue to trigger a UIF Registered decline for SRD each month. You need written confirmation from UIF or your former employer specifically covering the assessed month to support your appeal. For detailed guidance see our UIF Registered decline reason page.
How do I find out exactly what income SASSA detected for a specific month? Contact SASSA on 0800 60 10 11 and ask them to confirm which database record triggered the decline for the specific month. This tells you which administrator to contact for month-specific written confirmation.
What is the difference between the food poverty line and the upper-bound poverty line? The food poverty line at R624 per month is the minimum income needed to meet basic food requirements. The upper-bound poverty line at approximately R1,558 per month covers food and non-food basic needs. SRD uses the food poverty line as its income threshold.
Can I qualify for SRD if I have savings in a bank account? SRD does not have an asset test, only an income test. Savings in a bank account do not disqualify you unless interest or investment returns from those savings constitute income above R624 per month or unless the banking data triggers a different database flag during cross-checks.
Official References
- SRD portal
- SRD status portal
- SASSA services portal
- SASSA website
- SASSA helpline: 0800 60 10 11 (free, Monday to Friday)
- SASSA WhatsApp: 082 046 8553
- SRD Declined hub
- SASSA Appeal Guide
- Legal Aid South Africa
- Black Sash
Information on this page is sourced from official SASSA announcements and verified against www.sassa.gov.za. For official queries contact SASSA directly at www.sassa.gov.za or call 0800 60 10 11.
