"Alternative income source identified" - what it really means and how to fix it

Updated on 14 June 2026

If your SASSA SRD status shows "Alternative income source identified" (sometimes shortened to "Income detected" or "Alternative income source"), SASSA's automated check found a deposit of more than R624 on your bank records for the month they were assessing. The R624 figure is the SRD income threshold, derived from the food poverty line.

This is the single most resented decline reason because most of the time the "income" SASSA found is not actually income at all - it is a family member sending you airtime money, a refund for something you returned, or a friend paying you back for groceries. SASSA's system does not see context, it sees a number. The fix is to add context: bank statements, an affidavit, and a clear written explanation for every flagged deposit.

What income triggers the R624 threshold?

SASSA's system flags any incoming deposit over R624 in a single month, regardless of the source. The full list of common triggers:

• Family transfers - even a one-off R800 from your aunt for school uniforms counts.
• Freelance or gig payments - Uber, Mr D, Bolt drives, hairdressing, piece-work, anything ad-hoc.
• Selling something on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, or OLX - if the buyer EFTed the money to you.
• Cash deposits at an ATM or bank teller - SASSA treats this as income because they cannot see where the cash came from.
• Stokvel payouts - your turn to receive the lump sum counts as income for that month even though it is your own savings coming back.
• Rental income - even renting out a back-room for R500 plus a family transfer of R300 can push you over.
• eWallets and cash sends - Capitec Send Cash, FNB eWallet, Standard Bank Instant Money, Shoprite Money Market - all count as deposits the moment you cash them out.
• Refunds and reversals - even a returned online purchase shows as a deposit.
• Insurance payouts - funeral cover, life policy, household claims.
• Gambling or lottery winnings - if winnings were deposited.
• Loans repaid to you - someone you lent R700 paying you back counts as a deposit.
• UIF or pension lump sums - even if paid into your account in the assessed month.
• Salary or wages - even part-month pay if you started or ended a job mid-month.
• Money belonging to someone else that you held briefly - if you received and forwarded it the same day.

Important: it is the sum of all deposits for the month that matters in some cases, not just a single deposit. Two R400 transfers in the same month total R800 and will trigger the flag.

What is the SRD income threshold?

The current SRD eligibility threshold is R624 per month. If your bank deposits total more than R624 in the month being assessed, SASSA's system will flag you as having an alternative income source for that month. The threshold is reassessed each month - so being declined for one month does not mean you are declined for the next.

How to appeal "alternative income source"

You have 90 days from the decline to lodge a reconsideration. The reconsideration goes through SASSA first. If it is declined again, you have a further 30 days to take it to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA).

1. Open srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals.
2. Enter your 13-digit ID number and your registered cellphone number, then verify with the OTP.
3. Select the specific declined month you want to appeal. You can appeal multiple months separately.
4. Write the sample reconsideration paragraph (see below).
5. Upload bank statements covering the assessed month, plus a sworn affidavit, plus any supporting documents.
6. Submit and save your appeal reference number.

Sworn affidavit template - copy this

Take this to any SAPS station or Commissioner of Oaths (free) to be signed and stamped. Fill in the bracketed fields with your details.

SWORN AFFIDAVIT

I, [Full Name], with ID number [13-digit ID], residing at [address],
state under oath that:

1. I applied for the SASSA SRD R370 grant in [month year].
2. My application was declined for "alternative income source identified".
3. The deposit(s) flagged by SASSA was a [one-time gift / loan / refund /
   family support payment] from [name/relationship] on [date].
4. The amount of R[X] was [purpose - e.g. emergency medical costs, food,
   transport to job interview].
5. This is NOT regular income. I do not have any other source of income
   exceeding R624 per month.
6. I have no employment, no other grants, no UIF, no NSFAS funding.

Signed: ___________________
Date: ___________________
Commissioner of Oaths: ___________________

Tip: print this on plain A4 paper, fill it in, take your ID with you. SAPS Commissioner of Oaths services are free. Get two copies stamped so you keep one for your records.

Bank statement annotation guide

Bank statements alone are not enough. You need to annotate them so the SASSA reviewer can see at a glance which deposit you are explaining.

1. Download a bank statement covering 3 months (the assessed month plus one before and one after).
2. Print it out.
3. With a highlighter, highlight the flagged deposit clearly.
4. Write next to it in pen: "[Date] - One-time gift from [name] for [reason]".
5. If there are multiple deposits, annotate each one with date, source, and reason.
6. At the bottom of the page, write: "I confirm there are no other income deposits on this account." and sign + date.
7. Scan or photograph the annotated statement clearly. Upload it with your appeal.

If you do online banking, most banks let you add a note or category to each transaction. Adding the note before downloading the PDF gives you a clean, pre-annotated statement.

Common income types and how to explain them

Different deposit types need different supporting documents. Here is what works for each:

Sample reconsideration paragraph

This is shorter than the affidavit and is what you type into the appeal form on the SRD website. Keep it specific, factual, and under 200 words.

"The R[X] deposit on [date] from [name] was a [one-time gift / loan refund / asset sale]. It was for [specific purpose - e.g. funeral contribution, school uniform, taxi fare to job interview]. I have no regular income. This deposit does not represent ongoing income. Attached: sworn affidavit, 3-month bank statement, [other proof]."

Replace every bracketed field with the real detail. The more specific you are, the better. "Money from family" is weak. "R800 from my brother Sipho on 12 March for my child's school uniform" is strong.

What proof works for the appeal

• Bank statements showing the disputed deposit and the matching outflow (if you forwarded the money).
• Sworn affidavit using the template above.
• Sender affidavit from the person who transferred you money stating it was a gift, loan, or refund.
• Proof of refund or reversal if the deposit was a returned payment.
• Stokvel or burial society letter for stokvel payouts that are not earned income.
• Marketplace screenshots for once-off asset sales.

What does not work

• "I'm broke" without proof - you need bank statements and a specific explanation per deposit.
• Old bank statements - SASSA wants the statement covering the exact month of the decline.
• Unsigned letters - any supporting letter must be signed and dated, ideally by a Commissioner of Oaths.
• Deposits over R624 that were actually income - if you genuinely had income above the threshold, the decline was correct. You can qualify again the next month if your income drops.
• Generic explanations - "my family helped me" is too vague. Name the person, the date, the amount, the reason.

What happens after you submit the reconsideration

• Status: Pending. You will see "Reconsideration: Pending" on the appeals portal.
• Review time: 30 to 90 days is typical. Some take longer if SASSA needs additional info.
• Notification: You will receive an SMS to your registered cellphone when the reconsideration is reviewed.
• Outcome - Approved: SASSA back-pays the affected month(s) within 1-2 payment cycles. The back-pay goes to your registered payment method.
• Outcome - Declined again: You can lodge a final appeal directly with ITSAA within 30 days. See below.

If reconsideration is declined - final appeal to ITSAA

The Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) is a separate body, independent of SASSA. They review reconsideration declines fresh - they are not bound by SASSA's decision.

• Deadline: 30 days from the final SASSA decline.
• Where: Submit at srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals - the appeals portal handles both reconsideration and ITSAA appeals.
• Independence: ITSAA is not part of SASSA. They are constituted to review SASSA's decisions.
• Evidence needed: Even stronger evidence than the reconsideration. Add more supporting documents, more specific affidavits, and a clear written timeline of events.
• Decision: Final and binding. There is no further appeal route once ITSAA has decided, other than court review for material legal error.
• Time: 60 to 90 days typical for ITSAA decisions.

For all SASSA timelines (banking change, phone change, reapplication, etc.), see how long does each SASSA step take?

How to avoid this in future months

• If family or friends help you, ask them to give cash or buy items directly rather than transferring into your account.
• If you do receive a transfer, withdraw the same amount the same day and keep the bank statement showing the matched in-and-out.
• Keep clean bank statements - one bank account in your own name, used only for SRD-related activity, makes appeals much easier.
• Do not deposit cash unnecessarily into your account. If a deposit shows up that you cannot easily explain, SASSA will treat it as income.
• Avoid letting people use your account as a transit account ("just send it to me and I'll pass it on"). Every passthrough counts as income.

Timeline overview

• Day 1: Submit reconsideration, get reference number.
• Days 1-30: SASSA queues the case.
• Days 30-90: Detailed review.
• If approved: Back-payment within 1-2 payment cycles.
• If declined: 30 days to lodge ITSAA final appeal.
• ITSAA review: Additional 60-90 days.

FAQ

What does "alternative income source identified" mean?

SASSA's automated check found a deposit of more than R624 on your bank records for the month being assessed. They treat that as income and decline that month.

What is the SRD income threshold?

R624 per month. The grant is for people earning at or below this amount.

Can I appeal even if the deposit was not income?

Yes. Submit bank statements with a sworn affidavit and a clear explanation. Family transfers, refunds, money you held briefly for someone else - all of these are appealable. SASSA (and on second pass ITSAA) overturns the decline if the evidence supports it.

How long does the reconsideration take?

Typically 30 to 90 days. Successful reconsiderations lead to back-payment within 1-2 payment cycles.

Do I need a sworn affidavit?

Strongly recommended. It is free at any SAPS station (Commissioner of Oaths). It is the single most useful document because it puts your explanation under oath - much harder for SASSA to dismiss.

What if my reconsideration is also declined?

You have 30 days from the final decline to lodge an appeal with ITSAA, the independent tribunal. They are not bound by SASSA's decision.

What if I genuinely earned over R624?

Then the decline was correct for that month. You do not have to do anything - you can qualify again the next month if your income drops below the threshold.

Related SASSA pages

• All SRD declined reasons
• SRD declined - main guide
• SRD appeals - step by step
• How long does each SASSA step take?
• Check your SRD status

About this guide

This guide is maintained by OurPower and updated regularly to reflect current SASSA procedures, the R624 income threshold, and the SRD appeals process. We cross-reference the SASSA SRD portal, the Department of Social Development, and ITSAA tribunal guidance.

Sources

• South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) - sassa.gov.za
• Department of Social Development - dsd.gov.za
• SASSA SRD Portal - srd.sassa.gov.za
• SASSA SRD Appeals - srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals