The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) offers various forms of grants meant to provide financial support to people with no income sources. For instance, the Social Relief for Distress (SRD) is a special grant designed to help the needy buy basic needs like food, clothing, pay electricity, or buy clothing. However, if you have other sources of income, SASSA may reject your application for an SRD grant. This article explains what the SASSA status “Alternative income source identified” means.
‘Alternative Income Source Identified’ What Does It Mean?
An alternative source of income identified means the applicant has other forms of payments such as pension, salary, or government support. If you get money from other alternative sources, your application for the SASSA SRD grant will likely be rejected. SASSA’s policy is that grants are a preserve for the individuals in greatest need. Therefore, if you have another source of income, you will not be considered to be in a dire situation.
SASSA considers a few factors in determining if an applicant has an alternative source of income which include the following:
- The amount of money received from other sources: All Applicants for the SRD grant should not receive money that exceeds the minimum threshold of R624 per month. The agency also considers if the money received is enough to cover one’s basic needs.
- The frequency of receiving the money: If you get the payments regularly, your application will be rejected.
- Type of payment: SASSA considers the type of payment received. For instance, if you get a pension from your former employer, it is considered an alternative source of income. Once-off payments may not be regarded as alternative sources of income.
However, having another source of income does not mean that your grant application will be automatically rejected. SASSA considers your overall financial situation to be able to make a meaningful decision regarding your grant application. All the information you submit will be carefully verified to screen candidates who don’t deserve to get extra funding on top of what they already get.
SASSA obtains the information used to determine the existence of an alternative source of income from banks. Cash inflows into your account, including payments received from relatives, can be considered sources of income, impacting your eligibility for the grant. Therefore, it is vital to check your bank statements for the past three months to ensure that they have limited transactions before submitting your SRD grant application.
SRD grant applicants receiving money from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are not eligible for additional funding.
What Happens if You Are Declined?
If you believe that your application has been unfairly rejected, you can appeal the decision. You need to provide additional evidence to support your case, such as the type of alternative sources of income. In the event of having an income of more than R600 in your account, you can argue that the payments are not regular. Instead of receiving money from relatives through your bank account, it will be a good idea to consider other payment methods.
Your application for the SASSA grant can also be declined if you provide incorrect information. Ensure you meet all the requirements, such as being a South African citizen, refugee, permanent resident, asylum seeker, or holder of a special permit. If you can prove these components, you can win your appeal against the rejection of the grant.
How to Appeal Alternative Income Source Identified Decline Status
If you are convinced that the reasons for denying your application for the SASSA grant are false, you can appeal the decision. You should lodge your appeal within 30 days from the date your application was rejected. All appeals are handled by the Department of Social Development via an Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA).
You can submit your appeal online via the SRD website by following the steps below:
- Visit https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/reconsideration
- Enter your correct phone number and ID number in the appropriate login space.
- Request PIN and wait for a verification message
- Check if the information previously submitted is correct
- Update and save your details if necessary
- Select the month you’re applying for and choose your reason for appeal on the drop-down menu
- Go to “No Alternative Income Source”
- Confirm that you have read all the clauses in the Declaration Consent documents and you’ve understood them.
- Submit your application
- You will get a message confirming the successful appeal application
SASSA grants are meant for individuals in greatest need. If you have another alternative source of income likely to be picked by the agency during verification, your grant application will be rejected. However, if you feel that you have been treated unfairly and your situation has been misinterpreted, you can appeal the decision. You need to get additional information to support your case.
