"Declined" SASSA SRD R370 Status & What to Do

Understanding a "Declined" SRD R370 Grant Status

If your SASSA SRD R370 grant application status is "Declined" for a particular month, it means that following their monthly verification processes, SASSA determined that you do not meet the stipulated eligibility criteria to receive the grant for that specific period. This is a definitive outcome for that month's assessment, but it does not necessarily prevent you from being eligible in future months if your circumstances change, nor does it bar you from appealing the decision if you believe it was incorrect.

SASSA will usually provide a reason for the decline when you check your grant status online. This reason is crucial as it guides what steps, if any, you can take next.

Most Common Reasons for an SRD R370 Grant Decline

SASSA declines applications for various specific reasons, verified against multiple databases. Some of the most prevalent reasons include:

• Alternative Income Source Identified / Means Test Failure: This is a very common reason. SASSA's systems (checking with banks and SARS) detected an inflow of funds into your bank account, or other declared income, exceeding the current income threshold for the SRD grant (e.g., the frequently cited R624 per month, though this figure can be reviewed by SASSA).
• UIF Registered / Receiving UIF Benefits: The Department of Labour’s database indicates you are currently registered to receive Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) benefits, or are an active UIF beneficiary.
• NSFAS Registered / Receiving NSFAS Funds: Records show you are receiving funds from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
• Receiving Other Social Grant(s): You are already a beneficiary of another social grant for yourself from SASSA (e.g., Older Person's Grant, Disability Grant, War Veteran's Grant). Note: Receiving a Child Support Grant as a caregiver for a child does not disqualify you from SRD for yourself.
• Age Outside Range: You are younger than 18 or 60 years or older (making you potentially eligible for other grants like Child Support or Older Person's Grant).
• Identity Verification Failed: SASSA could not successfully verify your personal details with the Department of Home Affairs. Your status might show this specifically, or it could lead to a general decline. See more on Identity Verification Failed.
• Existing SASSA Grant with Similar Name/ID: Though rare, a system error might flag a similarity to another grant record.
• Government Employee: PERSAL or other government payroll systems indicate you are currently employed by the government.
• Debtor to SASSA: You owe SASSA money, possibly from a previous overpayment on another grant. SASSA might recoup this from any potential SRD payment or decline until settled.
• Deceased Record on DHA: The Department of Home Affairs system indicates the applicant is deceased. This is a serious data issue that must be corrected directly with DHA.
• SAFPS Registered: Your details may be registered with the South African Fraud Prevention Service, possibly indicating a risk or previous fraudulent activity associated with your identity, which SASSA checks.

It is vital to check the specific decline reason on the SASSA SRD website as this will determine if an appeal is viable.

What to Do When Your SRD R370 Application is "Declined"

If your SRD R370 application is declined, do not lose hope immediately. 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 precise reason for your "Declined" status is your first and most important step towards rectifying the situation or making an informed decision about an appeal.