SASSA SRD Eligibility & the R628 Means Test
The SASSA Social Relief of Distress grant is targeted at South African adults with no other income. The gate is the R628 monthly means test, and it is stricter than most people realise because it does not distinguish between a salary and a once-off family transfer. This page lays out every eligibility rule, explains the means test in plain language, shows what actually counts as income for SASSA's purposes, and gives you a practical checklist to stay compliant every month.
On this page
Eligibility at a Glance
If everything that lands in any bank account tied to your ID for a given month totals less than R628, and you meet the other qualifying rules, that month is eligible for R370. If it totals R628 or more, that month is declined. It is that simple, and that unforgiving.
Who Qualifies for the SRD R370
Age 18 to 59
Applicants younger than 18 are covered by CSG. Applicants 60 and older shift to the Older Person's Grant, which is more valuable.
Legal status
SA citizen, permanent resident, refugee holding a Section 24 permit, asylum seeker holding a Section 22 permit, or a special-permit holder recognised by DSD.
Unemployed
Not formally employed, not self-employed at a level that generates monthly income above R628, and not registered as a working stipend beneficiary.
Not on another SASSA grant
You cannot receive SRD in the same month you are the primary recipient of Older Person's, Disability, Foster Care, War Vet, Care Dependency, or CSG.
Not on UIF
No active claim on the Department of Labour system. UIF payouts count as income even for backdated periods.
Not funded by NSFAS
Currently-funded students on NSFAS at TVET colleges, universities, or CETs are excluded. NSFAS allowances count as income.
Below the R628 means test
All money flowing into bank accounts in your name must total less than R628 for the tested month.
Verified identity
Home Affairs population register lists you as alive and with the citizenship/residency status you declared. Cellphone RICA'd in your own name.
Who Does Not Qualify
Under 18 or over 59
Younger applicants qualify for CSG through their caregiver. Older applicants qualify for the Older Person's Grant.
Recipients of another SASSA grant
SRD cannot be stacked with Older Person's, Disability, Foster, War Vet, Care Dependency, or CSG (as primary caregiver).
Formally employed
Anyone on a payroll shows up in the SARS data feed within a quarter and is declined.
NSFAS-funded students
Enrolment on NSFAS shows in the twice-yearly reconciliation and disqualifies you until funding closes.
UIF claimants
Active or recently-closed unemployment claims disqualify for the claim months.
Foreign nationals without permits
Undocumented residents cannot apply. Section 22 or 24 permit holders can. Regular study or work visa holders cannot.
The R628 Means Test
The means test is the mechanism SASSA uses to keep the SRD budget targeted at people with truly no income. The threshold has been R624 in the past and moved to R628 as the food poverty line was updated. It is applied monthly and tested against the full contents of the bank sweep for that month.
How the test is applied
- SASSA sweeps every bank account tied to your ID at the top five SA banks (Absa, Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank, Capitec).
- All credits into any of those accounts for the calendar month are summed.
- The total is compared against the R628 threshold.
- If the total is R628 or more, the "Alternative Income Identified" flag is raised and that month is declined.
- If it is below R628, the month passes the means test (assuming all other eligibility checks pass).
What Counts as Income (for the means test)
The definition SASSA uses is broader than a normal "salary or wages" definition. Every one of these will trip the R628 flag if it lands in your account:
- Salary or wages from any formal or informal employer.
- Family transfers from parents, siblings, or a partner. Even a one-time gift for airtime data or school fees.
- Business income, including once-off payments for a service you provided.
- UIF payouts, whether currently claimed or backdated.
- NSFAS allowances paid via bank transfer.
- Insurance payouts including funeral policies and small claims.
- Refunds from retailers above R628 if they land in the tested month.
- eWallet or SnapScan credits received from customers or friends.
- Interest and dividends from any investment account.
- Grants or bursaries other than SASSA (private bursaries, church stipends).
What Does Not Count
These are explicitly excluded from the means test even when they land in your account:
- The R370 SRD itself from the previous month. SASSA is meant to exclude this, and usually does.
- Other SASSA grants paid into a different family member's account, even if you live with them.
- Cash gifts that never touched a bank account.
- Loans received (though repayments from you count, and the loan is often re-classified as income by the algorithm anyway).
- Non-cash benefits like food parcels, housing subsidies, or free school meals.
How SASSA Actually Checks
| Data source | What SASSA queries | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Bank sweep | Total deposits into your accounts at the big 5 banks. | Monthly |
| SARS | Declared income for the tax year to date. | Quarterly |
| UIF | Active or recent unemployment claims. | Monthly |
| NSFAS | Current student funding status. | Twice yearly (Feb, Aug) |
| Credit bureaus | Reported income and debt patterns. | Quarterly |
| Home Affairs | Life status, citizenship, ID validity. | Monthly |
| Other SASSA files | Whether you receive another grant. | Monthly |
The full mechanics of these checks live in our identity verification guide and grants review process guide.
How to Stay Compliant Every Month
- Keep monthly deposits under R628. If a family member wants to send you R900, ask them to split it across two calendar months (R450 in month 1, R450 in month 2).
- Close old bank accounts you no longer use. Dormant accounts still get swept and can accidentally push the total up.
- Do not accept large eWallet or SnapScan payments in your name. Route them to a family member's account or ask the sender to pay a supplier directly.
- Save loose cash rather than depositing it. Cash that never touches a bank account does not appear in the sweep.
- Time refunds carefully. A retailer refund is credited on their schedule, but you can sometimes ask for a store credit instead.
- Close your UIF claim formally if you have started SRD. An open UIF claim will always disqualify you.
- Notify NSFAS in writing when your funding ends, and download the closure certificate.
- Keep bank statements for the last six months on hand. If SASSA flags a false-positive, you need them for the reconsideration.
Special Cases
Informal workers and hawkers
If you work informally (street trader, waste picker, domestic day-worker), income is not declared to SARS but any bank deposit or eWallet payment is captured by the sweep. Keep informal earnings in cash and below the daily threshold that would push a monthly total above R628.
Foster grant recipients
The Foster Child Grant is paid to the foster parent, not the child. If you are a foster parent, you cannot claim SRD in the same month because Foster Grant counts as being on another SASSA grant.
Recently divorced or widowed applicants
Life-insurance payouts from a deceased partner count as income for the month they land, even if the amount is large and non-recurring. Time the SRD application to start the month after the payout has cleared, or attach a copy of the payout letter to a reconsideration.
Applicants with dependents but no CSG
If you care for children but do not receive CSG, apply for CSG first (bigger and more stable than SRD). If you already have CSG as the primary caregiver, you cannot also draw SRD.
Refugees and asylum seekers
Section 24 refugee permit holders qualify with no extra hurdles. Section 22 asylum seekers qualify but the permit must be current at the start of every payment month; a lapsed permit auto-declines the month. Renew at least 30 days before expiry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the R628 apply per person or per household?
Per person. SASSA's SRD means test looks at accounts tied to your ID only, not your spouse's or parent's. However, if money is transferred from a family member to you, it counts against your threshold in the month you receive it.
Is the R628 gross or net?
SASSA's means test looks at deposits into your bank account, which is essentially net (after any deductions). There is no allowance for expenses.
What if my only income is cash that never touches a bank account?
Then it does not appear in the bank sweep and the means test will pass. However, SASSA can and does audit informal income through SARS declarations, so declare accurately if asked directly.
Can I qualify if my spouse is employed?
Yes, as long as your spouse's income does not flow into your bank account. If your spouse pays your bills directly (rent, groceries, utilities) without transferring money to you, that support does not count against your means test.
Does the R370 count as income for other grants?
Not for CSG (which has a separate means test threshold). Not for Older Person's or Disability (which use their own income tests). It only counts as "income" in the sense that if you were to apply for SRD again after cancelling, the R370 in your account would push the means test.
Is the R628 threshold going to be raised in 2026?
Based on the 2026 Budget announcements, the threshold remains at R628. Adjustments have historically tracked the food poverty line updates from StatsSA, which move approximately once a year.