SASSA Means Test Requirements [2024]

Whether you are a child, an old person, a war veteran, or an unemployed youth, SASSA offers social grants to everyone to support them financially. However, it is important that only deserving people should receive these grants. For this you are required to pass the SASSA means test requirements to be eligible for the grant.

What is the means test for SASSA? – The social assistance offered by SASSA is subjected to means testing in which SASSA evaluates the income and assets of the person applying as well as his/her spouse to determine whether the person’s means are below a stipulated amount.

The SASSA means test is a way of determining whether a person qualifies to receive a grant as these grants are only meant for those who have insufficient means to support themselves. The means test criteria are different for each grant to evaluate the financial eligibility.

It should be noted that old person’s grants, war veterans grants, and disability grants are paid on a sliding scale. It means the more private income you have, the smaller the government support you qualify for. If you are single then your individual earnings will be considered and if you are married then your collective income & assets will be considered.

The assets and income threshold defined in the SASSA means test changes every April and October month. Let’s discuss and understand the means test criteria for each grant before you apply for them.

SASSA Means Test Income Threshold For All Grants

The income threshold for each grant varies from one type to another. Given below are the different income thresholds for each grant from October 2023:

Old Age, Disability, and War Veterans Grant:

If you are a single person then your annual income should not be more than R97,320.
For a married person, your collective income should not be more than R 194,640.

Child Support Grant:

If you are a single primary caretaker of the child then your annual income should not cross R61,200.
If a primary caregiver is married then their combined annual income should not be more than R122,400.

Foster Child Grant:

The SASSA means test criteria are not applicable for foster child grants.

Care Dependency Grant:

The annual income of a single parent (primary caregiver) should not be more than R250,800.
If the primary caregiver of the child is married then their combined income should not be more than R501,600.

SRD (Social Relief of Distress) R350 Grant:

To receive the SRD grant, your monthly income should not be more than R624.

SASSA Means Test Asset Threshold For All Grants

Assets include anything you own other than your income, like property, stocks, etc. SASSA has defined the maximum asset threshold that you can own. Those thresholds are as follows –

Old Age, Disability, and War Veterans Grant:

A single person should not own assets worth more than R1,379,400.
If you are married then your and your spouse’s combined assets value should not be more than R2,758,800.

The asset threshold of the SASSA means test does not apply to child support grants, care dependency grants, foster child grants, and SRD grants.

What is considered an income in the SASSA means test?

Income is money that you receive and which helps you to fulfill your basic needs. Income doesn’t mean the only money you receive from the job, It also includes:

Getting money from the private pension fund.
Earning money by renting out a room in your home.
Leasing out a property you own.
Getting financial support from family or friends.
Earning money from any business or farming.
Maintenance money for your child from your ex-spouse.
Compensation from other sources such as RAF (Road Accident Fund), UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund), or COIDA (Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Fund).

What are considered assets in the means test?

Assets are anything that you own other than your income. It includes:

Any cash in your and your spouse’s bank account.
The property or land you or your spouse own, except the house in which you live. (If the property has a bond registered over it, it’s considered to have no value)
All the investments you and your spouse own such as shares.
If you are retired from a retirement fund, your annuity will be considered as an asset.
If you are not retired then your annuity will not be considered in assets of the SASSA means test.
Bonds or loans on other outstanding debt.

What costs are deducted when calculating your income?

When you are calculating your income for the SASSA means test, you can deduct the following income sources from it:

UIF payments
The income tax that you pay
Medical aid expenses
Contribution made to your pension fund or retirement annuity

How much does the SASSA pay for each grant?

SASSA payments for each grant are generally increased twice throughout the year, either on April 1 or October 1. The latest amount for each grant is as follows:

Old Age Grant (Below 75 years): R2090 per month
Old Age Grant (Above 75 years): R2110 per month
War Veteran’s Grant: R2110 per month.
Disability Grant: R2090 per month
Care Dependency Grant: R2090 per month
Foster Child Grant: R1130 per month
Child Support Grant: R510 per month
Child Support Grant Top-Up: R760 per month
Grant-In-Aid: R510 per month
Covid-19 SRD Grant: R350 per month

All the eligible applicants get the grant payments as per the payment dates declared by SASSA.

FAQs

If you receive an income more than what is defined in the SASSA means test, then you don’t qualify for the SASSA grants.

As long as your annual income is below the means test, you will get a social grant.

Yes, you will get a child support grant but it will count as income.

No, a partner’s income will not be part of the “joint income” unless he or she is supporting and paying maintenance for a child.

Conclusion

SASSA means test is a way of determining whether a person qualifies to receive the grants because social grants are aimed at helping needy people financially. So that they can fulfill their basic needs. Your income and assets both are verified in the means test. The means test varies from one grant type to another.

You have to pass the SASSA means test to become eligible for the social grants. If you have any questions or queries then you can contact your nearest SASSA office and get them solved.