Grants Hub is not part of SASSA. This checker never asks for your ID number or banking details, and it does not see your bank account.
How the test works
The limit is R624 a month, which the Department of Social Development set in August 2022 in line with the food poverty line. SASSA said in January 2026 that no regulations had been amended and its eligibility criteria had not changed. When the change was proposed, the department said SASSA would decline an applicant who receives more than R624 into their bank account in a month, and that each month is assessed separately.
Two things follow. SASSA looks at what arrives in the account, not at what you would call your wage. And the check is monthly, so a month over the limit is declined for that month, and the next month starts fresh.
What counts as income
Because the test looks at deposits, the following count towards R624, and people have been declined for them:
- salary, wages and piece-work, even for part of the month
- money from family or friends sent to your account, even once
- freelance, commission and tips
- stokvel payouts
- other grants, UIF payments and NSFAS allowances
- loan repayments you receive
SASSA's officials told Parliament in June 2022 that the means test looks at the amount received in the account, not who it came from.
One-off deposits and gifts
In January 2025 the High Court in Pretoria ruled that gifts and one-time payments should not count when the income test is applied. The government appealed, and the case was before the Supreme Court of Appeal in August 2026. Until that is settled, a one-off deposit can still cause a decline in practice. That is why the checker shows a total both with and without gifts and one-off payments.
If you were declined because of a deposit that wasn't income, read the alternative income source explainer, which covers what to send when you appeal. The SRD guide covers the rest of the grant, and the eligibility calculator shows what else you might qualify for.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as income for the SRD means test?
Money paid into your bank account in the month. People have been declined over salary, family transfers, stokvel payouts and other grants.
Does a one-off deposit count against the R624 threshold?
It can. The High Court said gifts and one-time payments should not count, but the State has appealed, and in practice a single deposit over R624 can trigger a decline for that month.