A means test is used by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) to determine whether or not an applicant qualifies for financial assistance in the form of a social grant.
When conducting the means test, Sassa will evaluate the income and assets of the applicant in order to determine that the person's income and assets are below an amount specified by the agency.
This is done because Sassa grants are meant to provide financial aid to those who do not have the means to support themselves and their families.
The means test differs from one grant type to another. For example, the older persons grant, war veterans grant and disability grant are all paid on a sliding scale.
This means the more private income the applicant has, the smaller the government pension they will qualify for.
SASSA INCOME THRESHOLD
Grants for older persons, disability and war veterans:
- Income threshold: Not earn more than R86 280 if you are single or R172 560 if married (annual amounts)
- Asset threshold: Not have assets worth more than 1 227 600 if you are single or R2 455 200 if you are married.
Child Support Grants:
- Single person: Not earn more than R 54 000 per year
- Married person: Not earn more than R 108 000 per year
Care Dependency Grants:
- Single person: Not earn more than R 223 200 per year
- Married person: Not earn more than R 446 400 per year
