Means Test
The income and asset assessment that decides whether you qualify for a grant. SRD tests R624 of monthly income; permanent grants use annual income and asset thresholds.
Also searched as: means, income test, threshold, income limit, r624, asset test.
Guides on means test
Frequently asked questions
Why do the thresholds have asterisks?
Because reputable sources currently conflict on the 2026 figures, we mark them until traced to the Government Gazette. The structure of the test is stable; the exact rand values are being verified — see how we verify.
Read the full guide: The SASSA means test: income and asset thresholds for every grant
Is the SRD means test the same as this?
No — SRD tests R624/month of bank inflows, monthly, individually, with no asset test. Full SRD means test guide.
Read the full guide: The SASSA means test: income and asset thresholds for every grant
Is the review letter itself possibly a scam?
Verify before acting: real reviews are confirmable on 0800 60 10 11, happen at SASSA offices, and never involve paying anything or sharing OTPs. Any 'review' by phone/WhatsApp asking for card numbers is theft — scam guide.
Read the full guide: SASSA grant review: your letter, the deadline, and what to bring
Does the grant pay during the review?
Yes, until and unless it is suspended. Reviews only stop payment after the deadline passes or a disqualifying finding is made.
Read the full guide: SASSA grant review: your letter, the deadline, and what to bring
Is the threshold R624 or R625?
Official SASSA communication uses R624 — income must be *below* R625, which some sites round differently. Either way: R624 or less passes, R625 or more fails. We verify this figure against the Gazette as part of our verification process.
Read the full guide: The SRD means test: how the R624 monthly check works
Does SASSA see my spending?
The check concerns inflows against the threshold. Regardless — what you spend the grant on is not tested.
Read the full guide: The SRD means test: how the R624 monthly check works
Does a decline affect my future months?
No. SRD eligibility is assessed fresh every month. You stay in the system and each new month is checked on its own.
Read the full guide: SRD grant declined: what every reason means and what to do
Can I fix a decline without appealing?
No — for a declined month, only an appeal (or the Tribunal) can reverse the outcome for that month. But fixing the underlying record stops future months being declined for the same reason.
Read the full guide: SRD grant declined: what every reason means and what to do
Being written
- Means test calculator (Tools — phase 3)