The SASSA SRD R350 grant is meant for individuals who need financial support and have no financial means. This special grant is designed to assist with basic needs such as food, clothing, and basic household needs. However, in some cases, SASSA may reject an application for the SRD R350 grant due to the presence of alternative sources of income and your status will be ” SASSA status – rejected you have an alternative source of income”.
What is Meant by SASSA Status – Alternative Source of Income Identified
Alternative sources of income include any form of payment received by an individual, such as a salary, pension, or other government support. If an individual is found to have an alternative source of income, their application for a SASSA SRD R350 grant may be rejected.
This decision by SASSA is based on the principle that the grants are intended for those who are in greatest need. If an individual has another source of income, it is assumed that they are not in as dire a situation as someone who does not have any other source of support.
There are a few factors that SASSA considers when determining whether an individual has an alternative source of income. These include:
The amount of alternative source of income
SASSA will look at the amount of money received in your bank account from other sources and determine whether it is enough to cover the individual’s basic needs. If the amount received is more than R624, it is more likely that the application will be rejected because applicants who receive more than R624 (for that month) do not qualify to receive the R350 grant.
The frequency of the alternative source of income
SASSA will also consider how often the individual receives payments from other sources. If the payments are received on a regular basis, it is more likely that the application will be rejected.
The nature of the alternative source of income
SASSA will take into account the nature of the payment received from other sources. For example, a pension received from a former employer may be considered an alternative source of income, whereas a one-off payment for a service provided may not be.
It is important to note that the presence of alternative sources of income does not necessarily mean that an individual will not be eligible for a SASSA grant. SASSA will consider all of the information available and make a decision based on the individual’s overall financial situation.
In cases where an application for an SRD grant has been rejected due to alternative sources of income, there are steps that can be taken to appeal the decision. An individual can provide additional information to SASSA, such as proof of expenses and the nature of the alternative sources of income, to support their case.
SASSA SRD Verification Process
According to SASSA, bank accounts submitted for the R350 grant payment will be carefully evaluated to ensure they don’t receive a maximum of R624 in a single month. If the account is found to have regular deposits or payments, SASSA deems the account holder ineligible for the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant. This is known as a means test, as SASSA assumes the applicant must already be receiving monetary support, regardless of the source or purpose.
Many applicants are shocked to find out they’ve been declined, but it’s important to remember that SASSA obtains this information from the banks. If you’re in this situation, you may want to check your bank statement and transaction history for the past three months.
A suggestion for applicants is to avoid using their bank account to receive any other payments, as even funds from family members for various purposes can impact their eligibility for the grant. SASSA only considers the cash inflows in the account.
How to Appeal an Alternative Income Source SASSA Status?
If you know that the reason for your application being rejected is untrue you are eligible to lodge an appeal.
Appeals may be submitted online via the SRD website. Visit https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/reconsideration and carefully follow the instructions there. When you get to the page where you need to select the reconsideration option, click on “no alternative income source”.
This should be done within 30 days from the day your application was declined. The status of your reconsideration will be updated within 30 – 90 days.
Here is a more detailed article on how to submit an appeal and also check the status of your appeal: https://sagovjobs.co.za/sassa-r350-appeal-status-check/
In conclusion, SASSA’s decision to reject an application for a grant due to alternative sources of income is based on the principle that the grants are intended for those in greatest need. However, if an individual feels that their situation has been misunderstood or that they have been unfairly rejected, they have the opportunity to appeal the decision and provide additional information to support their case.