SASSA Means Test – Complete Guide

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) performs the Sassa Means test to determine the eligibility of the applicants for social assistance grants. This test is critical in ensuring financial aid is granted to those most in need, based on their income and assets. By continuously and rigorously assessing an applicant’s economic status, SASSA aims to provide targeted support to vulnerable individuals and families, thereby promoting social equity and reducing poverty. The means test process underscores the agency’s commitment to transparency and fairness in the distribution of social grants.

SASSA Means Test - Complete Guide
SASSA Means Test – Complete Guide

The ‘Means’ in SASSA is a term used for the means of income of a specific person, so before you go deep into it make sure to understand its purpose. The basic criterion of this test is to check the means of income of the person to check whether he/she deserves any SASSA grant. Let’s take a look at what the SASSA Means Test comprises and what the different means test thresholds for different SASSA grants.

What SASSA Means Test Include?

In the SASSA means test there are two criteria that each applicant has to fulfill before their application for the SASSA grant gets accepted. These include:

  • Income Threshold
  • Assets Threshold

What is considered an income by SASSA?

Income is money that you receive which helps you in making a living. According to SASSA income does not necessarily come from working a job only. The applicant may also receive income from other sources such as:

  • Renting out a room in his/her home for paying guests.
  • Leasing out any property he/she owns.
  • Financial support from the relatives of the applicant.
  • Receiving money from a private pension fund.
  • Receiving maintenance from an ex-spouse for the child.
  • Profits from other businesses such as farming.
  • Receiving aid from UIF, RAF, or COIDA.

Income Threshold for all the SASSA Grants

The applicants can check the income and assets threshold set by the SASSA Means Test to determine their eligibility, and requirements, and access the support they need from SASSA. It’s important to stay informed about the SASSA requirements to avoid lapses in your grant payments. Below is a list of the Income threshold defined by SASSA, as of 1 October 2023. It is important to note that these values are subject to change (usually on 1 April and 1 October each year).

Old Age Grant, Disability Grant, Grant-In-Aid, War veterans Grant

The income threshold for the old age grant, disability grant, grant-in-aid, and war veterans grant is the same as given below.

  • If the applicant is single, then he must not earn more than R8,070 per month (R96,840 annually).
  • If the applicant is married, then the combined income of the couple should not exceed R16,140 each month (R193,680 annually).

Child Support Grant

The income threshold for the SASSA child support grant is given below:

  • If the applicant (primary caregiver of the child) is single, then his income should not exceed R5,000 each month(R60,000 annually).
  • If the applicant is married, then the combined income of the couple should not exceed R10,000 each month (R120,000 annually).

Care Dependency Grant

The income threshold for SASSA care dependency grants is given below:

  • If the applicant (parent or primary caregiver of the child) is single, then his income should not be more than R20,800 each month (R249,600 annually).
  • If the applicant (parent or primary caregiver of the child) is married, then the combined income of the couple should not exceed R41,600 each month (R499,200 annually).

Social Relief of Distress SRD Grant

The income of the applicant should not exceed R624 each month.

Foster Child Grant

As of now, there is no income threshold defined by SASSA for the SASSA foster child grant.

What are considered assets by SASSA?

According to SASSA the assets of the applicant are:

  • Money in the applicant’s bank account if the applicant is single. If married, then the money in the applicant’s or the spouse’s bank account is considered an asset.
  • The value of the property or any land that the applicant or his/her spouse possesses, except the land or house in which the applicant lives. (Properties or land with an outstanding bond are considered to have no value).
  • The value of all investments owned by the applicant or his/her spouse, such as shares or any other type of investments, will be counted as an asset.
  • If the applicant has retired from a retirement fund, his/her annuity will be included as an asset for the means test. If the applicant has not yet retired from a retirement fund, his/her annuity will not be considered an asset for the means test.
  • Outstanding debt, such as bonds and loans are considered assets.

Asset Threshold for SASSA Grants

The asset thresholds for the SASSA grants are explained below.

Old Age, Disability, Grant-in-Aid, and War Veterans Grant

For SASSA old age grant, grant-in-aid, and war veteran grant the asset thresholds are as follows:

  • If the applicant is single, then the assets owned by him should not exceed more than R1,372,800.
  • If the applicant is married then the combined assets of the couple should not exceed more than R2,745,600. 

Child Support Grant, Care Dependency Grant, Foster Child Grant, and SRD Grant 

Child Support Grant
Child Support Grant

According to SASSA policies, the SASSA Child Support Grant, SASSA Care Dependency Grant, SASSA Foster Child Grant, and SRD Grant are all need-based grants and do not require the means test for assets.

What costs can be deducted when calculating the income for the SASSA Means test?

When calculating the income for the SASSA means test, the applicants are permitted to subtract the following expenses:

  • Taxes paid by the applicant.
  • UID payments.
  • Medical aid expenses.
  • Contributions to a retirement annuity or pension funds.

How much does a SASSA grant pay?

After a successful means test and other verification processes, the applicant’s application is approved and he/she can get their grant money on specific days through their preferred method of payment. Keep in mind that the applicants can not perform the SASSA Status Check before they pass the SASSA Means Test. SASSA pays different amounts to the beneficiaries of different SASSA grants. The amount of each SASSA grant paid to the beneficiaries along with the respective grant is given below.

Older Persons Grant

  • If the beneficiary is under 75 years of age then he receives R2,090 each month.
  • If the beneficiary is above 75 years of age then he receives R2,110 each month.

Disability Grant

  • The beneficiary receives R2,090 each month.

War Veterans Grant

  • The beneficiary receives R2,110 each month.

Foster Child Grant

  •  The beneficiary receives R1,130 each month.

Care Dependency Grant 

  • The beneficiary receives R2,090 each month

Child Support Grant

  • The beneficiary receives R510 each month (750 with top-up amount).

Grant-In-Aid

  • The beneficiary receives R510 each month.

Social Relief of Distress SRD Grant

  • The beneficiary receives R350 each month.

Why does SASSA conduct the Means Test?

There are many reasons why the SASSA conducts the means test of each applicant when they apply for any SASSA grant. These reasons are given below:

  1. To determine the eligibility of the applicants for the grant they applied for.
  2. To continuously monitor the eligibility and circumstances of the applicants. If there is any change in the applicant’s circumstances, the grant might be suspended. 
  3. To prioritize the people really in need of assistance. By evaluating the financial conditions of the applicants, SASSA can determine which applicant deserves the grant and thus directs the funds to those in need.
  4. To prevent any misuse of the SASSA grant, or any fraudulent activity.

Things to Remember about the SASSA Means Test

  • If the applicant’s spouse is already receiving an SASSA grant, that grant will be counted as income when the applicant applies for the SASSA compensation.
  • The spouse can apply for and claim separate grants. If one of the spouses already receives a grant, then that amount will not be counted as income when the other applies for an SASSA grant.
  • The value of the house the applicant lives in will not be taken into account.
  • If the other properties the applicant or the spouse owns have a bond registered over the property, it will not be taken into account during the Means test.
  • SASSA not only performs the Means test for the new applicants but also checks their current grant holders about their income sources or assets to rule out any injustice or fraudulent activity.
  • If your SASSA status says “Pending”, this means that your application has passed the means test criteria and SASSA is performing other verification or some of your documents or information is missing. 

The SASSA Means Test is an important step in the identification of people who urgently need financial aid. Understanding how much income and assets the applicants are allowed to have is important for getting SASSA grants and getting the financial support that you need. If you have any questions about applying for a SASSA grant or checking your eligibility, you can contact SASSA directly for help.

FAQs ( Frequently Asked Questions )

SASSA means test aim is to identify needy people facing financial difficulties and need immediate intervention and financial support from SASSA

The main factors for the SASSA Means Test are the assets and income of the applicant and his/her spouse(if married) to identify the eligibility criteria of its applicants.

The SASSA means test is essential to get the SASSA SRD R350 grant to make sure that the grant is only given to the people truly in need.

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