Declined for “Means Income Source Identified”? Here’s What It Actually Means and How to Respond
What This Decline Reason Means
When your SRD status shows Means Income Source Identified, it means the SASSA means test detected income linked to your ID number for that specific assessed month. The system checks whether your monthly income exceeds the R624 threshold. If it does — or if it appears to — your application is declined for that month.
This does not mean your grant is permanently cancelled. SRD is assessed month by month. A decline in one month does not affect other months. You can be declined in March and approved in April if your financial situation changes.
How the Wording Appears on Each Portal
The same decline reason displays differently depending on which portal you are using. Match exactly what you see:
SRD status portal (srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status): Means Income Source Identified
SRD appeals portal (srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals/appeal): means_income_source_identified
Appeal reason on appeals portal: no_alternative_income_source
You may also see the older wording Alternative Income Source Identified on older SASSA communications. This is the same decline reason under a previous label. The appeal process is identical.
If your appeals portal shows no_alternative_income_source as the appeal reason when your decline shows means_income_source_identified, this is normal. The portal is using an older label for the same dispute. Submit your appeal with evidence matching the assessed month regardless of which label appears.
How SASSA Checks Your Income
SASSA runs automated checks every month using two main sources. First, banking data — SASSA has access to bank transaction records and checks whether deposits into your linked account exceeded R624 in the assessed month. Second, government databases — SASSA cross-references your ID against UIF records, NSFAS records, government payroll systems, and other registered income sources.
If either check returns a result suggesting income above R624 for that month, the system declines the application automatically. This is not a manual decision — it is an automated flag that can sometimes be wrong.
Common Reasons This Happens
Salary or wages received. Any employment income, including part-time or short-term work, will trigger this result if it pushes your monthly income above R624.
Once-off payments. A bonus, backpay, commission, settlement payment, or any single large deposit in the assessed month can trigger this result even if you have no regular income. One payment in one month declines that specific month only.
Regular deposits that look like income. If someone sends you money regularly — family support, contributions from a partner, stokvels — the system may classify these as income even if they are not wages.
Government-linked payments. Certain government transfers can be flagged depending on how they are classified in the system.
Incorrect linkage. Your ID number is incorrectly linked to someone else’s income in a government or banking database. This is less common but does happen.
Money received on behalf of someone else. If you receive money into your account on behalf of another person, SASSA’s system sees it as your income. It cannot distinguish between money belonging to you and money passing through your account.
Step 1: Work Out If the Decline Is Correct
Before appealing, check your bank statement for the month that was declined. Look at every deposit and add them up. If the total exceeds R624 and the income genuinely belongs to you, the decline is correct and an appeal is unlikely to succeed for that month. You can requalify in a future month once that income stops.
If the total does not exceed R624, or if the deposits are not your income (family support, once-off transfers, money received on behalf of someone else), the decline may be incorrect and an appeal is worth submitting.
Step 2: How to Appeal
You have 90 days from the date of the decline to submit an appeal. Appeals are handled by the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA), not SASSA directly.
Go to the official SRD appeals portal: srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals/appeal
Enter your ID number and registered phone number. Select the month you are appealing — you must appeal each declined month separately even if the reason is the same across multiple months. Select the appeal reason. The portal will likely show no_alternative_income_source for this type of decline. Upload your supporting documents. Submit.
You will receive an SMS confirming your appeal has been received.
What Proof to Include With Your Appeal
Your evidence must match the specific month you are disputing. Generic documents covering a different period are unlikely to change the outcome.
If the income was not yours: A signed affidavit explaining that the money received was on behalf of another person, along with any communication confirming this.
If it was a once-off payment: Bank statement for the assessed month showing the single deposit, plus a letter, payslip, or confirmation showing it was once-off (redundancy payment, backpay, settlement).
If you had no income: Bank statement for the assessed month showing no deposits above R624 or no deposits at all. A letter from your employer confirming termination if you recently stopped working.
If the linkage is incorrect: Any documentation showing the income does not belong to you — a letter from the relevant employer or institution, proof of identity mismatch, or a correction confirmation from the relevant database.
Keep your appeal honest and specific to the month in question. ITSAA reviews the evidence for that month only.
What Happens After You Submit Your Appeal
ITSAA will review your appeal and notify you by SMS with the outcome. There is no fixed timeframe but most appeals are reviewed within several weeks. Check your status regularly at srd.sassa.gov.za while waiting.
If your appeal is successful: Your payment for that month will be processed. Check your payment date on the SRD portal after approval is confirmed.
If your appeal is declined: The outcome for that month is final through the internal process. You have two remaining options. The first is to approach the High Court for judicial review under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) within 180 days — this is a legal process and you would need legal assistance. The second is to contact Black Sash or Legal Aid South Africa for free advice on your options if you believe the decline was unjust.
Neither option guarantees a different outcome. If the income was genuinely yours and above R624, the original decline is likely to stand.
Preventing This Decline in Future Months
Check your bank statement before the middle of each month. SASSA typically runs its income checks between the 1st and 15th of the assessed month. If you received a once-off payment that month, it may trigger the decline even if you have no ongoing income.
Avoid receiving money on behalf of other people into your SRD-linked account. Even temporary transfers can appear as income and trigger a decline.
If your circumstances change and you do start earning above R624 per month regularly, you are required to cancel your SRD application. Continuing to receive the grant while ineligible can result in a repayment demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Means Income Source Identified mean my grant is cancelled permanently? No. It means your application was declined for that specific assessed month. Your grant continues to be assessed each month. A decline in one month does not affect future months.
Can one payment trigger this decline? Yes. A single once-off payment in the assessed month can trigger this result even if all other months pass. You can appeal that specific month with proof that the payment was not regular income.
What is the income threshold for the SRD grant? R624 per month. If your total monthly income from any source exceeds this amount, you do not qualify for that month.
Why does my appeal show no_alternative_income_source when my decline shows means_income_source_identified? The appeals portal uses an older label for the same type of dispute. This is normal and does not affect your appeal. Submit your evidence for the assessed month regardless of the label shown.
How long do I have to appeal? 90 days from the date of the decline. After 90 days the online portal will block that month. If you miss the online deadline you can submit a written appeal to SASSA directly.
What if I received money on behalf of someone else? Include a signed affidavit in your appeal explaining the nature of the deposit and that the funds were not your income. This is a common scenario and ITSAA does consider it with adequate proof.
I had no income that month. Why was I still declined? SASSA’s automated system may have flagged a deposit that does not constitute income. Check your bank statement for the assessed month and submit an appeal with your bank statement as proof if the total deposits were below R624.
Official Links
SRD status portal: srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status
SRD appeals portal: srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals/appeal
SASSA helpline: 0800 60 10 11 (free, Monday to Friday)
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.
