“Declined” SASSA SRD R370 Status & What to Do

A “Declined” status for your SRD R370 grant means that for that specific month, SASSA checked your application and found that you did not meet one or more of the requirements to qualify.The most important thing is to understand the reason why it was declined. Once you know the reason, you can decide what to do next, such as submitting an appeal if you believe the decision was wrong.

Understanding a “Declined” SRD R370 Grant Status

If your SASSA SRD R370 grant application status shows “Declined” for a certain month, it means that SASSA checked your details for that month and decided that you did not qualify to receive the grant for that time.
This decision is final for that specific month. However, it does not mean you will always be declined. If your situation changes in the future, you may qualify in other months. You can also appeal the decision if you think the Declined status was a mistake.

When you do your SASSA SRD Status Check, SASSA will usually give you a reason why your application was declined.This reason is very important because it helps you understand what went wrong and what you can do next, if there are any steps you can take.

Most Common Reasons for an SRD R370 Grant Decline

SASSA declines applications for specific reasons after checking your details against different official databases. Some of the most common reasons include.

• Alternative Income Source Identified / Means Test Failure: This is a very common reason. SASSA’s system (checking with banks and SARS) found money going into your bank account, or other income you declared, that is higher than the allowed income limit for the SRD grant (for example, the often mentioned R624 per month, although SASSA can review this amount).
• UIF Registered / Receiving UIF Benefits: The Department of Labour database shows that you are registered for Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) benefits or are currently receiving UIF payments.
• NSFAS Registered / Receiving NSFAS Funds: Records show that you are getting money from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
• Receiving Other Social Grant(s): You are already receiving another social grant for yourself from SASSA (such as an Older Person’s Grant, Disability Grant, or War Veteran’s Grant). Note: If you receive a Child Support Grant for a child, this does not disqualify you from getting the SRD grant for yourself.
• Age Outside Range: You are younger than 18 years old or 60 years and older (which may make you qualify for other grants like the Child Support Grant or Older Person’s Grant instead).
• Identity Verification Failed: SASSA could not confirm your personal details with the Department of Home Affairs. Your status may clearly show this reason, or it may result in a general declined message. see more on Identity Verification Failed.
• Existing SASSA Grant with Similar Name/ID: In rare cases, a system error may show that your name or ID is similar to someone who already receives a grant.
• Government Employee: PERSAL or other government payroll systems show that you are currently employed by the government.
• Debtor to SASSA: You owe SASSA money, possibly because of an overpayment from a previous grant. SASSA may deduct this from your SRD payment or keep your application declined until the debt is paid.
• Deceased Record on DHA: The Department of Home Affairs system shows that the applicant is listed as deceased. This is a serious data problem that must be fixed directly with Home Affairs.
• SAFPS Registered: Your details are registered with the South African Fraud Prevention Service, which may show possible risk or past fraud linked to your ID. SASSA checks this information during verification.

It is very important to check the exact reason why your application was declined on the SASSA SRD website, because this will help you know if you can submit an appeal or not.

What to Do When Your SRD R370 Application is “Declined”

If your SRD R370 application is declined, do not lose hope right away. There are specific steps you can take:

1. Identify the Exact Reason for Decline: Use the online SASSA status checker to find the specific reason code or explanation given by SASSA for the decline. This is paramount.
2. Verify Your Information:
   • If the decline is related to income, review your financial activities for that month.
   • If related to UIF/NSFAS, confirm your status with those entities.
   • If related to identity, double-check your details against your ID and DHA records.
3. Consider an Appeal (Reconsideration): If you believe the reason for decline is incorrect, or based on outdated information, or if your circumstances have demonstrably changed to now meet the criteria for that declined month, you have the right to lodge an appeal.
   • Appeals are managed by the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) and must be submitted online via the SASSA SRD appeals portal: srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals.
   • You generally have 30 to 90 days from the date of the declined status to lodge an appeal for that specific month.
   • You may need to submit separate appeals for each month you were declined. More details can be found on our SRD R370 Appeals page.
4. Gather Supporting Evidence for Your Appeal: If you appeal, provide clear evidence to refute the reason for decline. This could be:
   • Bank statements (if disputing income).
   • A letter from Department of Labour confirming UIF status is closed.
   • Proof from NSFAS that you are not an active beneficiary.
   • Proof of updated DHA records if identity was an issue.
5. Address the Underlying Issue (If Applicable):
   • If declined for being a SASSA debtor, contact SASSA to understand the debt and make arrangements.
   • If flagged by SAFPS, you may need to contact them to understand and resolve the flag.
   • If DHA records are incorrect (e.g., deceased status), you must correct this directly with DHA.
6. Reassess Eligibility for Future Months: Even if declined for one month, if your circumstances change (e.g., loss of income), you may become eligible in subsequent months. SASSA reassesses eligibility monthly.

Understanding the exact reason why your application shows “Declined” is the first and most important step. It helps you fix the problem or make the right decision about whether to submit an appeal.

“Declined” SRD R370 Grant Status: Frequently Asked Questions.