SASSA Status 'Source of Income Found' November 2025? The Real Reason & Your 5-Step Fix

A comprehensive, solution-oriented guide for South Africans whose SRD R350 grant was declined in November 2025 with the status ‘Source of Income Found’. Learn exactly what this status means, how SASSA’s automated means test works, the common errors that trigger a false positive, and a detailed 5-step process to investigate, gather evidence, and lodge a successful appeal with SASSA.

The Frustration is Real: Declined for Money You Don’t Have

You check your SASSA status for November 2025, hoping for ‘Approved’, but instead, you see the soul-crushing message: ‘Declined: Source of Income Found’. The confusion and anger are immediate. You haven’t worked in months, you have no income, so where is SASSA getting this information? This isn’t just a system error; it’s a barrier keeping essential funds from those who need them most. In this guide, we’re not just going to explain the problem. We’re going to give you the exact 5-step action plan that successful applicants use to fight this specific rejection and win their appeal.

Decoding the Jargon: What ‘Source of Income Found’ Really Means

When SASSA says ‘Source of Income Found’, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a job or are earning a salary. It means that during its automated monthly check, its system detected money flowing into a bank account or database linked to your ID number that exceeds the income threshold. For late 2025, this threshold remains R624.

This check is part of the ‘means test’, a process where SASSA cross-references your details with:

• Department of Labour databases: To see if you are registered for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
• SARS databases: To check for declared income.
• Commercial Banks: To scan for any incoming funds into accounts linked to your ID.
• NSFAS databases: To check for student funding.

Often, the system flags legitimate transactions incorrectly or uses outdated information, leading to your unfair rejection.

The Top 4 Reasons the System Gets It Wrong in November 2025

Understanding why you were flagged is the first step to fixing it. Here are the most common triggers for a false ‘Source of Income Found’ status:

1. The Ghost of UIF Past: You may have been unemployed for a year, but if your previous employer never officially removed you from the Department of Labour’s UIF database, the system still sees you as ’employed’ or receiving benefits. This is one of the biggest causes of rejection.
2. Friendly E-Wallets & Family Help: A friend sending you R200 for groceries or a family member helping with R500 for rent can be misinterpreted by the automated system. While these are not income, multiple small payments can add up and be flagged as an ‘income source’ if they exceed the R624 limit in a given month.
3. Forgotten Bank Accounts: An old savings or investment account you haven’t used in years might have received a small dividend or interest payment. Even a few Rands can be flagged by the system.
4. Data Lags and Mismatches: The information SASSA receives from banks and other government departments isn’t always in real-time. Data from the previous month might be used to assess your current month’s application, leading to a decline based on outdated information.

Your 5-Step Action Plan to Fix ‘Source of Income Found’ and Win Your Appeal

Don’t just re-apply and hope for the best. You need a targeted strategy. Follow these steps precisely.

Step 1: Become an Investigator - Check Your Data Sources

Before you appeal, you need evidence. Your first job is to find out what SASSA’s system might have seen.

• Check Your UIF Status: Visit the Department of Labour’s uFiling website or contact them directly to confirm your employment status. If you are listed as active, you must contact your previous employer to have them terminate you on the system. Get written proof of this if possible.
• Review All Bank Statements: Scrutinise your bank statements for the month you were declined. Look for any incoming payments. Identify each one: was it a gift, a loan repayment from a friend, or something else? You need to know exactly what money came in.

Step 2: Gather Your Evidence

Once you’ve identified the likely trigger, you need to collect proof to counter it. Your appeal is only as strong as your evidence.

• For UIF Issues: Get a letter from your previous employer confirming your last day of employment. If you can’t, get a sworn affidavit at a police station stating you are unemployed and for how long.
• For Bank Transaction Issues: Prepare your bank statement for the relevant month. If possible, get affidavits from the people who sent you money, stating that it was a gift or personal loan, not income.
• General Proof: Always include a certified copy of your ID and proof of address.

Step 3: Lodge a Targeted Appeal (The Right Way)

Do not submit a generic appeal. You must address the specific reason for rejection.

• Go to the DSD/SASSA appeals website: srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals.
• When you submit your appeal, there is often a section for comments or a way to upload documents. State clearly: “My application was declined for ‘Source of Income Found’. This is incorrect. The funds detected were [explain what they were, e.g., ‘a gift from a family member’ or ‘related to an old, incorrect UIF registration’]. I have attached my bank statement and an affidavit as proof. I have no other source of income and meet the criteria for the SRD grant.”
• Refer to our complete SASSA Appeals Guide for a detailed walkthrough of the online portal.

Step 4: Follow Up Relentlessly

Lodging the appeal is only half the battle. You must monitor its progress.

• Regularly check your appeal status using the same website.
• Appeals are handled by the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA), not SASSA directly, and can take up to 90 days. Be patient but persistent.

Step 5: Escalate if Necessary

If your appeal is rejected without a clear reason, or the 90-day period has passed, you can escalate the matter. Contact the ITSAA directly or consider seeking assistance from organisations like the Black Sash, which advocate for beneficiaries’ rights.

Real-Life Example: How Nomusa Fought Back and Won

Nomusa from Soweto was declined for her November 2025 grant due to ‘Source of Income Found’. She was devastated as she had been unemployed for over two years. Following the steps, she discovered her old employer from 2023 had never terminated her on the UIF system. She managed to get a letter from the company, submitted it with her appeal explaining the situation, and after 6 weeks, her appeal was successful. Her status was changed to ‘Approved’ and she received back-pay for the month she was unfairly denied.

Proactive Measures: How to Prevent Future Declines

To avoid this issue in the future, be mindful of your financial footprint:

• Use a Dedicated Bank Account: If possible, use one bank account solely for your grant. This makes it easier to track funds and prove you have no other income.
• Ask for Cash, Not E-Wallets: When friends or family help, ask for cash if possible. This avoids creating a digital trail that SASSA’s automated system can misinterpret.
• Close Dormant Accounts: If you have old bank accounts you don’t use, formally close them to prevent small, unexpected payments from being flagged.
• Confirm UIF Termination: When you leave a job, always follow up to ensure you have been removed from the UIF database.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Let a Bot Decide Your Fate

The ‘Source of Income Found’ status is one of the most common and unfair reasons for rejection. SASSA’s reliance on automated systems, while efficient, often lacks the nuance to understand real-life situations. By understanding the system’s flaws and meticulously following the steps to appeal with clear evidence, you are not just trying again; you are taking control and demanding a fair assessment. Your R350 is not a handout; it’s a right you are entitled to when you meet the criteria. Fight for it.

Frequently Asked Questions