SASSA Declined: Income Source Identified

Your SASSA SRD R370 application was declined because the system detected evidence that you earn income above the R624 per month threshold. This page explains which databases SASSA checks, why false positives are common, and how to gather the right evidence to appeal successfully.

Last updated: 24 Mar 2026

What This Decline Means

The SRD R370 grant (Social Relief of Distress) is reserved for South African citizens and permanent residents who have no income or earn less than R624 per month. Before approving any application, SASSA runs an automated means test that checks multiple government and financial databases.

When the system finds evidence suggesting you earn above the threshold, it returns the decline reason "income source identified" or "means test failed." These two phrases refer to the same check. The problem is that these automated checks rely on data that is sometimes outdated, incorrect, or misinterpreted.

What to Do Right Now

The key is to figure out which data source flagged you, then gather evidence proving that the income information is wrong or no longer current.

Identify which database flagged you

Call SASSA at 0800 60 10 11 or visit a SASSA office and ask them to tell you the specific source of the income that was detected. Was it SARS? UIF? Bank data? Knowing the source tells you exactly where to go to fix it. If SASSA cannot give you this detail, work through all the sources listed below to check each one.

Check your SARS tax records

Log in to SARS eFiling (www.sarsefiling.co.za) or visit a SARS branch. Check if any employer has submitted an IRP5 certificate under your tax number for the current or recent tax year. If an old employer is still reflecting, contact them to submit a final IRP5 showing your employment ended. You can also request SARS to flag the employment as terminated.

Check your UIF status

Visit ufiling.labour.gov.za and check whether you are still registered as an active UIF contributor. If your previous employer did not deregister you, you will appear as employed. See our UIF registered decline guide for detailed steps on resolving this.

Review your bank statements

Get your last 3 months of bank statements and look for any deposits that could appear to be income. Recurring deposits above R624 from identifiable sources may trigger the decline. If these deposits are not income (gifts from family, loan repayments from someone who owes you, church donations), be prepared to explain each one with supporting evidence.

Gather your evidence and appeal

Once you have identified the source of the problem, collect the documents that prove your actual income is below R624 per month. Submit your appeal at srd.sassa.gov.za with all supporting documents attached. The stronger and clearer your evidence, the more likely your appeal will succeed.

Which Databases Does SASSA Check for Income?

SASSA cross-references your ID number against several government and financial databases to determine whether you have income. Here is what each check involves and why it might produce an incorrect result.

SARS Tax Records

SASSA checks whether any employer has submitted an IRP5 certificate (proof of salary paid) linked to your tax number. It also checks whether you have filed a tax return showing income.

Why false positives happen: Your previous employer may have submitted an IRP5 for a tax year when you were still employed, and SASSA may interpret this as current income. SARS data often reflects the previous tax year, not your present situation. Seasonal or contract workers are particularly affected because their employment shows up on SARS even though it has ended.

UIF Database

The Unemployment Insurance Fund database shows whether you are registered as an active contributor, which implies current employment.

Why false positives happen: Employers are responsible for deregistering employees from UIF when they leave. Many do not. If your last employer failed to deregister you, the UIF database will still show you as employed even though you have not received a salary in months or years.

Banking and Credit Bureau Data

SASSA can access aggregated financial data that shows patterns of deposits into your bank account. Credit bureaus may also hold information about your income based on credit applications you have made.

Why false positives happen: Once-off deposits from family members, stokvel payouts, church donations, or someone repaying a personal loan can look like income to an automated system. If you share a bank account with a spouse or family member who earns income, their deposits may be attributed to you.

Government Payroll (PERSAL/IPR5)

PERSAL is the payroll system for national and provincial government employees. If you are on this system, SASSA sees you as a government employee with income.

Why false positives happen: If you previously worked for the government on a contract or temporary basis and your records were not removed from PERSAL after the contract ended, you will still appear as a government employee.

Common Situations That Trigger False Declines

If any of these situations apply to you, your decline may be a false positive that can be overturned on appeal:

A family member sent you money via bank transfer.Get a signed letter from the family member confirming it was a gift, not payment for work. Include both your bank statement showing the deposit and their bank statement showing the matching transfer if possible.

Your previous employer did not submit your final tax return.Contact your former employer's HR department and request they file your final IRP5 with SARS. If the company no longer exists, visit SARS with your retrenchment letter or termination notice to update your records directly.

You share a bank account with someone who has income.Open your own bank account (a basic zero-fee account is available at most banks) and provide statements from that account showing no income. Include an affidavit explaining the shared account situation.

You do occasional informal work below the threshold.If you earn less than R624 per month from informal work (such as washing cars or selling goods), you still qualify. Provide an affidavit from a commissioner of oaths declaring your actual average monthly income. Bank statements showing deposits below the threshold will support your case.

You received a stokvel or burial society payout.These are savings, not income. Include a letter from the stokvel confirming the payout was a return of your own contributions, along with any membership records.

How to Appeal With Evidence

Documents That Strengthen Your Appeal

✓Bank statements (last 3 months) - showing no regular income deposits above R624/month
✓Retrenchment or termination letter - from your previous employer confirming you are no longer employed
✓UIF confirmation letter - from the Department of Labour confirming you are not registered or no longer contributing
✓SARS letter or eFiling printout - showing no current employer registered under your tax number
✓Sworn affidavit - declaring your current income status, made at a police station or before a commissioner of oaths

Ready to appeal? Follow our step-by-step appeal guide to submit your appeal at srd.sassa.gov.za. Attach all the documents listed above. You have 90 days from the date of the decline.

Need Help? Contact SASSA Directly

If you need to find out exactly which income source SASSA detected:

Toll-free:0800 60 10 11
WhatsApp:082 046 8553
USSD:*134*7737#
Email:grantenquiries@sassa.gov.za

All Decline ReasonsSee every SASSA decline reason and solution UIF Registered DeclineIf UIF is the specific source flagged Appeal GuideStep-by-step appeal process SRD R370 Grant InfoFull eligibility requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

What income threshold does SASSA use for the SRD R370 grant?

The current income threshold for the SRD R370 grant is R624 per month. If SASSA detects that you earn more than this amount from any source, your application will be declined. This threshold is set by government regulation and applies to individual income, not household income.

Does SASSA check my bank account directly?

SASSA does not log into your bank account. However, SASSA has data-sharing agreements that allow it to cross-reference financial information. This can include data from SARS (tax returns and IRP5 submissions from employers), the UIF database, and in some cases aggregated banking data from credit bureaus or the South African Reserve Bank. Regular deposits that exceed the threshold may be flagged even if they are not employment income.

I received a once-off gift or loan deposit - will SASSA count that as income?

Unfortunately, automated systems cannot easily distinguish between regular income and a once-off deposit. If you received money from a family member, a church donation, or an informal loan, it may show up as income on bank records. When appealing, include a signed letter from the person who sent you the money, or a bank statement with a note explaining the transaction, to prove it was not regular income.

My old employer is still showing on SARS records - what should I do?

Contact your previous employer and ask them to submit your final IRP5 certificate to SARS showing your employment ended. You can also visit a SARS branch with proof of termination (retrenchment letter, resignation confirmation, or UIF documents) and ask SARS to update your taxpayer record. Once updated, include the SARS confirmation in your SASSA appeal.

This website is not affiliated with SASSA or the South African government. The information provided here is for educational purposes and is based on publicly available information. Always verify details directly with SASSA or the relevant government department.