Anyone applying for a social grant must qualify through a means test. This is a way of measuring a person’s income and assets. If the person applies for a grant, SASSA will evaluate their income and assets. If the income and/or assets are higher than the thresholds set by government, then they will not qualify for a social grant. The means test depends on their own income and assets if they are not married, and on the income and assets of the applicant and their spouse if married. It makes no difference if the applicant is married in community of property or out of community of property. If the applicant’s spouse already receives a social grant, their grant is NOT counted as income in the application.

A Foster Child Grant is the only social grant that is NOT subject to a means test.

The means test differs for the different grants. For example, the Older Person’s Grant, Disability Grant and War Veteran’s Grant are paid on a sliding scale. This means the more private income the applicant has, the smaller the percentage of government grant they will qualify for. Other grants such as the Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant (the Special SRD R370 Grant) is a fixed amount and not paid on a sliding scale provided the person is not earning above the applicable means test.

INCOME & ASSETS THRESHOLD

The means test will consider the following ‘assets’ which will determine whether a person qualifies for a grant:

• Value of a property or land owned by the applicant or their spouse (except for the property they live in) (properties or land that have an outstanding bond registered over it, are deemed to have 0 value)
• Cash in the bank (and their spouse’s bank account)
• Investments (such as shares or unit trust funds) owned by the person or their spouse
• Retirement fund (if the person has retired from the fund)

The income and assets thresholds for the means test as of April are as follows:

Older Person’s Grant:

People aged 60 and older who earn less than 107 880 (if single) and R215 760 (if married and combined) a year, whose assets do not exceed 1 524 600(single) and R3 049 200 (married).

War Veterans Grant:

Men and women who fought in World War II or the Korean War who earn less than 107 880 (single) and R215 760 (married) a year, whose assets do not exceed 1 524 600 (single) and R3 049 200 (married).

Disability Grant:

People with permanent or temporary disabilities earning less than 1 524 600 (single) and R3 049 200 (married) a year, whose assets do not exceed 1 524 600 (single) and R3 049 200 (married).

Grant-in-Aid:

An applicant for this grant must earn less than 107 880 per year (single) and R215 760 per year (married) and the assets must not be more than 1 524 600 (single) and R3 049 200 (married).

For up-to-date information on the asset and income thresholds for the means test, check the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) website, or Black Sash website: www.blacksash.org.za or Black Sash Helpline: 072-663-3739.

WHAT COUNTS AS INCOME?

Income means money you get from somewhere else. This can be:

• Renting out a room in your house for a fee
• Leasing out any other property for a fee
• From a private pension fund
• Earning money for work that you do
• Profits you make from farming or from any business
• Compensation for instance from UIF, Road Accident Fund or Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Fund (COIDA)
• Financial support received from relatives such as dependent children
• Maintenance received as an ex-spouse or for a child

NOTE: A husband and wife can claim separate grants. If either of the spouses already gets a grant, then that grant must not be counted as income when the other spouse applies for a grant.

WHAT CAN BE DEDUCTED WHEN CALCULATING INCOME?

You are allowed to deduct the following:

• Contributions to a pension fund or retirement annuity
• Income tax that you pay
• Payments made to a medical aid
• Payments made to the Unemployment Insurance Fund