Understanding the SASSA Means Test

You must first be aware of the SASSA means test requirements before you can apply for a social grant from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). To be qualified for the award, you must meet the requirements of the means test.

To make sure that only worthy people receive the grant, the Means Test computes the applicant’s financial situation, including their income, assets, and other financial factors. Should the applicant’s assets or income exceed the SASSA means test criteria, they will not be eligible for the grant.

The means test requirements for each grant type vary to assess financial eligibility. Grants for the elderly, disabled, and veterans of war, for instance, are all awarded on a sliding scale; that is to say, the more private income you have, the less money you will receive in grants.

A married person’s income and assets are determined jointly with their spouse. Whether they got married on community property or not makes no difference. Assets and income are entirely dependent on single individuals.

I covered the income and asset thresholds for each grant kind in this context. You may find out how much SASSA pays you by reading this page. To apply for the SASSA social grant, make sure you have read the text thoroughly and understand the means test requirements.

The maximum income and asset thresholds that will be in effect as of April 1, 2023, are covered here. It’s crucial to remember that these figures could fluctuate every year on April 1 or October 1.

Income Requirement for Every SASSA Grant

The SASSA income threshold varies according to the kind of SASSA award, as we have already covered. The upper-income limits for each kind of grant are as follows:

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

A single person should not be earning an amount greater than R8 070 per month (R96 840 per year).
A married couple should not have a collective income of more than R193 680 per year (R16 140 per month).

Child Support Grant

The income of a single person (primary caregiver of the child) should not be more than R5 000 per month (R60 000 per year).
The married applicant (the child’s primary caregiver) and their spouse should not have a combined income of more than R120 000 per year (R10 000 per month).

Care Dependency Grant

The income of a single person (parent or primary caregiver of the child) should not be more than R20 800 per month (R249 600 per year).
The married applicant (parent or primary caregiver of the child) and their spouse should not have a combined income of more than R499 200 per year (R41 600 per month).

Foster Child Grant

This means a test is not required for a Foster Child Grant.

SRD (Social Relief of Distress) Grant

Your income must not be greater than R624 per month.

Asset Threshold for All SASSA Grants

Here are the maximum asset thresholds for each type of grant:

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

A single person should not own assets valued at more than R1 372 800.
Combined assets of a married person with their spouse should not be worth more than R2 745 600.

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

What does the SASSA Means Test define as an income?

According to SASSA, the following are regarded as sources of income:

Receiving a grant from a private pension
Making money through farming or other business ventures
Getting financial support from loved ones or friends
Renting out a section of your home to generate income
payments for child support from a former spouse
Earning money through employment
leasing a home that you own
reimbursement from additional sources, such as the Road Accident Fund (RAF), the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), or the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Fund (COIDA).

What are considered assets?

The following is what the SASSA meaning test counts as an asset:

Cash in your bank account. Money is in either your spouse’s bank account if you’re married.
the amount of money that you and/or your spouse own in property or land, excluding the home or land where you currently reside. Land or properties that have an outstanding bond are deemed to be worthless.
All of your and your spouse’s assets, including shares and other investments, will be valued and taken into account.
Your annuity won’t be taken into account as an asset for the means test if you haven’t yet retired from a retirement fund.
Your annuity will be counted among your assets for the means test if you are retired from a retirement fund.
outstanding obligations, including loans and bonds.

What costs are deducted when calculating your revenue?

The following costs may be deducted from your wage when determining your score on the SASSA means test:

Payments through UIF
Expenses for medical assistance
Your income tax payments Retirement plan contributions, like your pension fund or retirement annuity.

How much does a SASSA grant pay?

We’ll go over the salary range for an SASSA grant here. These numbers will take effect on October 1, 2023. Every year, either on April 1st or October 1st, it could alter.

Older People Grant: (less than 75 years old): R2 090 per month
Older People Grant: Recipients who are 75 years of age or older receive R2 110 each month.
Disability Grant: Monthly Payment of R2, 090
War Veterans Grant: A monthly payment of R2,110
Foster Child Grant: Monthly payment of R1,130
Care Dependency Grant: Monthly payment of R2, 090
Child Support Grant: R510 (750 with top-up amount) per month
Grant Aid: Awarded R510 monthly
SRD Grant: A monthly payment of R350
Only qualified candidates will receive the monthly award installments, which are planned.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the goal of the SASSA means test is to find those in need who are having financial problems and require quick assistance from others. The means test verifies your eligibility for financing by evaluating your income and assets. The means test requirements vary depending on the type of social grant and must be satisfied to be eligible for an SASSA grant. You can get in touch with SASSA directly if you have any questions about applying for the award or about the requirements for eligibility.