How Much Must You Earn to Qualify for an SASSA Grant?

Are you wondering whether you qualify for the SASSA grant? If you are looking for financial help from SASSA, it is important to meet the means test criteria. The means test is a process of measuring your assets and income. It ensures that only needy people will receive the grants.

I will discuss the means test criteria for assets and income separately. Further, I will also talk about the cost that SASSA will deduct while measuring your assets.

Means Test for Married and Unmarried SASSA Applicants

The income and assets of married applicants are calculated together. Please note it does not matter whether you are married in a community of property or out of a community of property. In the case of the unmarried applicant, only his assets and income are calculated.

Means Test for SASSA Grants

There are two different criteria for the SASSA means test.

Income Threshold
Asset Threshold

The SASSA means test varies from grant to grant. It is important to meet both criteria to qualify for the SASSA grant.

Income Threshold for Eight SASSA Grants

The income threshold for each grant is different. The income threshold for SASSA grants is:

Social Relief of Distress Grant

The SRD grant provides financial assistance to those who are unable to fulfill their basic needs. You will get a total of R370.

The maximum income of an applicant must be equal to or less than R624.

Child Support Grant

It aims to provide financial support to those who are a caregiver of a child of the age of 18 or less. The total amount of the child support grant has recently increased to R560. The maximum income to apply for the Child Support grant is:

The monthly earnings of a single person must be less than R5100 and R61,000 annually.
The combined income of a married couple should be less than R10,200 per month and R122,400 yearly.

Old Age Grant

It offers financial support to those who are over 60 years old and are unable to meet their daily needs. You will get R2180 for a single person.

The income threshold for unmarried applications is R8070 monthly. Your income should not exceed R96,840 yearly.
If you are applying for an old age grant as a married couple, your collective income must be less than R16140 and R 193680 annually.

Grant-in-Aid

This grant provides additional support to those who are unable to take care of themselves. If you are already receiving an old age grant, war veteran grant, or disability grant, you are eligible for this grant.

This extra amount will help you hire a full-time caregiver. The means test for Grant-in-aid is connected with the other SASSA grants. SASSA will provide R530 monthly. You have to fulfill the income threshold of the grants mentioned above to apply for Grant-in-aid.

Care Dependency Grant

It aims to offer support to those biological parents or foster parents who are looking after a disabled child. You will receive R2,180 per month.

If you are unmarried, your earnings should be less than R21,800 monthly. Further, your income must be less than R261600 annually.
In the case of a married couple, the combined income of you and your spouse should not be more than R43600 per month and 523,200 yearly.
If you are a foster parent of a disabled child, you do not have to fulfill any means test.

SASSA War Veteran Grant

If you are a former soldier who fought in World War II or the Korean War, then you are eligible for this grant. The grant amount of SASSA war veteran grant is R2,180 monthly.

If you are applying as a single person, your income must be less than R101 640 per year and R8470 monthly.
If you are married, the joint income must be lower than R203 280 annually and 16,940 per month.

Foster Care Grant

You can apply for this grant if you are a foster parent of a child but are unable to fulfill his needs. SASSA will provide you with R1,180. You are eligible for this grant only if the child protection organization and child court appoint you.

There is no means test for a foster care grant.

Disability Grant

If you are unable to work due to any mental or physical disability, you can apply for an SASSA disability grant. The grant amount for it is R2,180. There are two different types of this grant. You can read more information regarding these types from our SASSA Disability grant article (LINK OF SASSA DISABILITY GRANT ARTICLE).

Your maximum income should be less than R8,070 monthly and R86,280 yearly.
If you are applying as a married couple, your monthly income must be lower than 16140 and R193,680 annually.

Please carefully review your income before applying for the SASSA grant.

Assets Threshold for Eight SASSA Grants

SASSA has also set an assets threshold for all grants. If you are fulfilling the income threshold for any grant, please check its assets threshold.

Asset Threshold for Old Age, Disability, Grant-in-Aid, War Veteran Grant

The asset threshold for these four grants is exactly the same.

If you are applying as an unmarried person, the total amount of your assets must be less than R1372,800.
The combined value of your and your spouse’s assets should be less than R2745,600.

Asset Threshold for SRD, Foster, Child Dependency Grant

SRD R350, Foster Care, and Child Dependency grants do not have an asset threshold.

How Did SASSA Calculate Your Income?

While calculating your income, SASSA considers the following earnings as your income:

Your monthly pay from your current job.
If you are getting any money by renting your assets then it is considered as your income.
Any funds you receive from social welfare grants. These may include
Unemployment Insurance Fund
Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Fund.
Road Accident Fund
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme
The income you make from any kind of business or farming activities.
If you are receiving a pension, SASSA will include this amount in your income.
Further, any child maintenance you get from your ex-spouse will count as your income.
If you are receiving any help from your family or friends then it will be added to your income.

Please note that SASSA deducts some amount when calculating your monthly income. These expenses include income tax and medical bills.

What Did SASSA Consider as an Asset?

SASSA considered this money and property as your assets:

Your money in a bank account is considered your asset. If you are a married couple, the combined money in your and your spouse’s account is a part of your assets.
You and your spouse’s property are considered assets. However, the house you reside in is not counted as a part of your assets.
SASSA will add your and your spouse’s investments, such as shares in any company, to your assets.
If you have retired from your retirement fund, your annuity is considered your assets.
In case you have not retired yet, your annuity will not count as your assets.

If you are fulfilling the above criteria, you can apply for a SASSA grant by following the simple steps from our Apply for SASSA Grant article. (LINK OF APPLY FOR THE SASSA GRANT ARTICLE)

Which Amount SASSA will Deduct While Calculating Your Income?

When SASSA calculates your income, they take into account your expenses. This helps the SASSA to assess your financial situation clearly. These expenses are:

Your monthly Income tax
Your Medical Bill
UIF Funds
Payment made to a Pension Fund

Please deduct these expenses before calculating your income.

How Will You Not Receive an SASSA Grant?

There are four conditions you have to meet to qualify for the SASSA grant. If you are unable to meet any condition then SASSA will decline your application.

You must not be admitted to any state institute. These can be hospitals and old age homes.
You are not receiving any other SASSA grant. However, you can apply for the Grant -in-Aid while receiving other SASSA grants.
Further, you have to pass the mean test.
You are not a mineworker who gets the compensation under the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act.

If you are a mineworker, you cannot apply for an SASSA grant because you are already getting money under ODMWA.

Conclusion

SASSA means test calculates your income and assets to check your financial condition. It ensures that only needy and poor people receive the SASSA grants. The criteria are different for each grant. Before applying for any grant, please carefully check your income and assets. You can deduct expenses like medical bills while calculating your income.

How Much Must You Earn to Qualify for an SASSA Grant?

Means Test for Married and Unmarried SASSA Applicants