Declined: “Means income source” (means test failed)
On this page (5 sections)
A means-test decline means the assessment concluded your financial means exceeded R624 for the month — through bank inflows or other financial records. Because the test runs fresh every month, this decline only ever applies to the month assessed.
Is this decline commonly wrong?
Sometimes. The same false positives as alternative income source apply: once-off transfers, money held for others, and loan payouts are not income, but the check counts them. If your genuine means were below R624, appeal.
Evidence that overturns it
- Bank statements for the assessed month showing the nature of each deposit.
- An affidavit explaining any deposit that was not income for your own benefit.
For exactly what counts as income, what is excluded, and how the monthly cycle works, read the full SRD means test guide.
How to appeal
Lodge your appeal on the official appeals portal at srd.dsd.gov.za within 90 days of the outcome — and separately for each month that was declined. The Independent Tribunal re-checks the government databases when it considers your appeal, so if the underlying record is wrong, fix it first where possible. Full walkthrough: how to appeal an SRD decline.
Frequently asked questions
I earn R700 a month from piece work. Do I qualify?
Not in months where your income is above R624 — the test is a hard threshold. In months you earn less than R624, you qualify again; your application stays in the system and is re-assessed monthly.
Verified information
- Responsible body
- South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
- Official source
- sassa.gov.za
- Status
- Confirmed, some figures pending
- Date verified
- Confidence
- High confidence
Process and eligibility rules confirmed against official sources. Amounts marked * are widely reported 2026 figures still being traced to the Government Gazette.
SA Benefits is independent and not affiliated with SASSA or government. Editorial guidance on this page is clearly separated from official information — see how we verify.
What's changed on this page (1)
First published and checked against official sources. Future changes to figures, deadlines or processes will be listed here rather than silently edited.
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