SASSA Means Test
If you or anyone is wanting to qualify for the SASSA grant, you will need to first pass the SASSA Means test. This test was created to measure potential candidates’ income and assets and see if they qualify for the SASSA grant. Should the potential candidate’s income and assets be higher than the threshold set by the South African Government, they will unfortunately not qualify for the grant.
Some important things to note are:
- For unmarried applicants, the means test is dependent on the only candidate’s income and assets.
- For unmarried applicants, the means test is dependent on the candidate’s and their spouses income and assets.
- It does not make a difference if the candidate is married in the community of property or out of the community of property.
- Grants for Older Persons (pensioners), Disabled Candidates, and War Veterans are paid on a sliding scale. This means that the more private income you receive, the smaller your government grant will be.
What is the Asset and Income threshold?
Below is a list of the Asset and Income threshold, 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):
Asset Threshold:
Older Persons, Disability, and War Veteran’s grant:
- A single person should not have assets totalling more than R1 379 400.
- A married person’s joint assets with their spouse should not total more than R2 758 800 (it is important to note that the value of the house the candidate lives in is not taken into account, irrespective of who owns it).
Income Threshold (per annum):
Older Persons, Disability, and War Veteran’s grant:
- A single person should not earn more than R97 320 per year (i.e. R8 110 per month).
- A married person’s joint income with their spouse should not be more than R194 640 per year (i.e. R16 220 per month).
Child Support grant:
- A single person should not earn more than R61 200 per year (i.e. R5 100 per month).
- A married person’s joint income with their spouse should not be more than R122 400 per year (i.e. R10 200 per month).
Care Dependency grant:
- Parent/ PCG single should not earn more than R250 800 per year (i.e. R20 900 per month).
- A Parent/ PCG married joint income with their spouse should not be more than R501 600 per year (i.e. R41 800 per month).
It is important to note that the Foster Child grant, does NOT require a means test.
** Apply for SASSA Grants here **
What is considered an income?
Income is money that you receive that aids you in making a living. It does not necessarily only come from working a job, but also:
- Renting out a room in your home for an amount
- Leasing out a property you own
- Financial support from relatives
- Getting money from a private pension fund
- Maintenance received from an ex-spouse for your child
- Farming/ any other business profits
- Compensation from things such as RAF, UIF or COIDA
Should one spouse already receive a grant, that grant must be counted as income when you apply for your SASSA compensation.
Spouses may claim separate grants. If one of the spouses already receives a grant, then that grant amount must NOT be counted as income when the other applies for the SASSA grant.
What are considered assets?
Assets may be:
- The value of the house/ land that you and/ or your spouse own (should the property have a bond registered over it, it will be registered as having a nil value)
- Bonds/ loans on other outstanding debt
- Any cash in your bank account
- Any cash in any account with a bank or building society
It is important to note that if you own a home but live in it, it will NOT be counted as an asset.
What expenses are deduced when calculating your income?
When calculating your income for the means test, you are allowed to deduct the following amounts:
- Contributions made to a pension fund/ retirement annuity
- Any income tax that you pay
- Medical aid payments
- UIF payments
How much does a SASSA grant pay?
Below is a list of the SASSA grant payout amounts, 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 (below 75 years old): R2 090 per month
- Old Age grant (above 75 years old): R2 110 per month
- War Veterans grant: R2 110 per month
- Disability grant: R2 090 per month
- Care Dependency grant: R2 090 per month
- Foster Child grant: R1 130 per month
- Child Support grant: R510 per month (or R760 per month with the top-up of R250)
- Extended Child Support grant for caregivers of orphaned children: R760 per month
- Grant Aid: R510 per month
- Covid-19 SRD Grant: R350 per month