SASSA Grants Guide 2026
SASSA uses a means test to check if applicants earn below a certain income and have assets below a certain value before approving grants. Different grants have different thresholds. This page lists all 2026 means test limits for every SASSA grant.
The means test is a financial check that determines whether you qualify for a SASSA grant based on your income and assets. SASSA assesses:
You do not need to submit payslips. SASSA checks your income electronically through SARS, UIF, NSFAS, the Government Payroll, and Home Affairs databases. The check is automatic during application processing.
| Grant | Income Limit (Single) | Income Limit (Married) | Asset Limit (Single) | Asset Limit (Married) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Older Persons | R92,099/year | R184,198/year combined | R1,227,600 | R2,455,200 combined |
| Disability | R92,099/year | R184,198/year combined | R1,227,600 | R2,455,200 combined |
| Child Support | R4,800/month | R9,600/month combined | No asset test | No asset test |
| Foster Child | No means test | No means test | No asset test | No asset test |
| Care Dependency | R92,099/year | R184,198/year combined | No asset test | No asset test |
| SRD R370 | R624/month | N/A (individual basis) | No asset test | No asset test |
The SRD R370 has the most restrictive income threshold of all SASSA grants:
| Income Source | Counts Toward R624 Limit? |
|---|---|
| Salary or wages | Yes |
| Part-time / casual work | Yes |
| UIF payments (active) | Yes — disqualifies entirely |
| NSFAS bursary | Yes — disqualifies entirely |
| Informal / cash income | Yes — self-declared, SASSA checks SARS |
| Other SASSA grant | Automatic disqualification (regardless of amount) |
| Family support / remittances | Assessed case by case |
R624/month is assessed per individual — not per household. If you earn R625/month, you do not qualify for that month.
For Older Persons, Disability, and Care Dependency Grants:
| Income Type | Counts? |
|---|---|
| Salary or wages | Yes |
| Business income | Yes |
| UIF payments | Yes |
| Pension / annuity | Yes |
| Rental income | Yes |
| Investment dividends | Yes |
| Other SASSA grants received by spouse | Yes (for married threshold) |
| Your own SASSA grant | No (excluded from spouse’s income calculation) |
For Older Persons and Disability Grants (asset test applies):
| Asset Type | Counts? |
|---|---|
| Primary home (below threshold) | No — excluded |
| Primary home (if valued very high) | Only excess above threshold |
| Savings and bank accounts | Yes |
| Investments and unit trusts | Yes |
| Vehicles (above basic value) | Yes |
| Household furniture and appliances | No |
| Jewellery and personal items | No |
The primary home exclusion means most grant recipients who own a modest home are unaffected by the asset test — the asset threshold of R1,227,600 is set well above the value of a typical township or rural home.
SASSA runs electronic checks against SARS (tax records), UIF (labour records), NSFAS (student funding), and the Government Payroll database. You do not submit payslips. SASSA’s system flags inconsistencies automatically.
R624 per month from all income sources combined. This includes part-time work, UIF, and any cash income. Receiving any other SASSA grant automatically disqualifies you from SRD, regardless of the amount.
SASSA does not access your bank account directly. However, it checks SARS records (which reflect bank-related income), UIF records, and other government databases. Significant undeclared income may be flagged through these cross-checks.
You are required to notify SASSA if your circumstances change. For the SRD R370, your income is automatically re-assessed each month. For other grants, SASSA conducts periodic reviews. Continuing to receive a grant after you no longer qualify can result in overpayment recovery.
For the SRD R370: yes, if your part-time income exceeds R624/month. For other grants (Older Persons, Disability, Child Support), part-time income is included in the means test but the thresholds are much higher — occasional or low-level part-time work may still leave you within the qualifying range.
Written by
Busi specialises in South African social grant systems and SASSA policy. Every guide on this site is independently researched, verified against official SASSA sources, and updated whenever SASSA releases new dates, amounts, or policy changes.
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