Quick summary
- The SRD grant means test caps qualifying monthly income at R624.
- SASSA checks all bank deposits, salary records and tax data each month.
- The grant pays R370 per month for the 2026 financial year.
- The means test is reassessed every month, not just at application.
- A failed means test can be appealed within 90 days.
Disclaimer: the R624 SRD means test threshold matches the Stats SA food poverty line at the time of writing. If National Treasury or the Department of Social Development announces a revised threshold, this figure may change. Always verify the current threshold on srd.sassa.gov.za.
The SRD grant means test is the single biggest reason applications are declined. The threshold remains at R624 per month for 2026, in line with the Stats SA food poverty line. Anyone earning above that figure, whether through salary, stokvel deposits, family transfers or freelance work, will fail the test for that month.
Knowing what SASSA counts as income, and what it does not, helps applicants understand their status messages and prepare a proper appeal.
How the SRD grant means test works
The means test is automated. SASSA does not interview applicants. Every month, the system pulls data from multiple sources and runs the check.
The agency assesses:
- All deposits into your South African bank accounts
- SARS income records
- UIF contributor and beneficiary records
- NSFAS funding records
- Other social grant records
If any one source shows income above R624, the application is declined for that month. The check runs again the next month, so a fail in May does not block June.
The R624 threshold
The R624 figure is set in the SRD regulations and matches the food poverty line. It applies to total income from all sources, not per deposit.
For example, a R200 EFT from a family member plus a R500 stipend equals R700. That fails the means test, even though no single deposit was above R624.
Applicants who receive irregular but high deposits are often surprised by a decline in a specific month. The system does not average across months. It assesses each month on its own.
What SASSA counts as income
The means test is broad. The following are counted:
- Salary or wages
- Stipends from work or learnership programmes
- Stokvel payouts and contributions returned to you
- EFT transfers from family or friends
- Rental income
- Freelance or piece-work payments
- Maintenance payments deposited into your account
Cash payments that never enter your bank account are not picked up by the system. However, declaring cash income on a SASSA appeal is a legal requirement. Failing to declare it is grant fraud.
What does not count
Some deposits do not count toward the threshold:
- Refunds of money you transferred to yourself
- Reversed transactions
- Loan disbursements from registered credit providers
- Existing SASSA grant deposits
If your decline status is based on a deposit that fits one of these categories, you have grounds for an appeal.
How often the means test runs
SASSA runs the means test on the bank data available at the time of assessment. Most beneficiaries are assessed shortly before the monthly payment cycle.
If your salary lands on the 25th and SASSA assesses on the 26th, that deposit will be counted. If you closed an account on the 24th, the data may not reflect for one or two weeks. This is why beneficiaries sometimes see a decline shortly after a change.
What happens if you fail the means test
A failed means test does not cancel your application. It only declines the affected month. Your file remains active for the next monthly review.
To address the failure:
- Identify which deposit triggered the decline
- Gather bank statements that explain the source of the deposit
- Submit an appeal through srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals within 90 days
For the full steps, read our SASSA appeal process guide.
SRD grant means test and the R370 payment
The means test threshold of R624 and the grant amount of R370 are separate figures. R370 is the amount paid out each month if you qualify. R624 is the income ceiling.
For the 2026 financial year, the SRD grant remains at R370 per month. Other support figures discussed in recent policy debates have not been implemented as a universal SRD payment. The R370 SRD grant remains the active SASSA payment for unemployed applicants between 18 and 60.
Common misconceptions about the means test
Applicants often misread the rules. The most frequent misconceptions are:
- “If I only get the deposit once, it will not count” (it does count for that month)
- “Family members can send me money without flagging the system” (any deposit, alone or combined, above R624 will flag)
- “The R370 grant does not count as income for the means test” (correct, existing SASSA grants are excluded)
- “Cash payments are checked” (only bank deposits are picked up automatically)
Apply with accurate information and check your status monthly. The SRD grant means test is unforgiving when deposits are unexplained, but it can be appealed when the data is misread.
If you are unsure why you were declined, read our breakdown of common SASSA decline reasons for the underlying causes.
About this article
Nuusflits is a South African news publication covering current affairs, social grants and consumer information. This article is sourced from official primary sources, including the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), the Department of Social Development, the National Treasury and SAnews. Facts are verified against the published 2026/27 social grant schedule and current SASSA policy. Last updated 21 May 2026.
Part of our SASSA hub: view all SASSA guides, payment dates and status checks.
