Status reference
SASSA Status Meanings
What each SASSA and SRD status result means in plain language, and what it actually asks you to do next.
Grant Assist SA provides independent information. We cannot see your application, and the official service is always the authority on your own result.
Read the reason, not just the word
Most results come with a reason attached, and the reason is what decides what you can do. Declined on its own tells you almost nothing. Declined because an income source was found, and declined because an identity check did not match, need completely different responses.
The wording below is what applicants commonly report. SASSA changes its wording from time to time, so treat the official service as authoritative and treat anyone charging you to interpret a status as a scam.
What each status means
Grouped by what the result actually is. Each one has its own link, so you can send someone straight to the result they are looking at.
Approved 2
Approved
The application passed the checks for that period. For SRD this applies to one month at a time, so it does not carry over automatically to the next month.
What to do Look for a payment date or a banking message shown with the result. Approval and payment are separate steps.
Approved but not yet paid
The result is approved and the money has not been released or has not landed yet. The most common cause is banking information that has not finished being verified.
What to do Check that your banking details are submitted and verified on the official service, then allow for your bank to process the payment.
Still in progress 5
Pending
The application or that month's assessment has not been finalised. It is a normal state, not an error, and it can sit for a while.
What to do Nothing to do except check the official service again later. Nobody outside SASSA can say how long it will take.
Processing
The application is moving through the checks. It means the same thing as pending in practice.
What to do Wait and check the official service again.
Referred
The application has been sent for extra review or manual verification rather than being decided automatically.
What to do Follow only the instructions shown on the official service. A referral is not a decline.
Pending verification
Your details are being checked against other records, such as Home Affairs or income records.
What to do Wait. If the official service asks you for something, do it there and nowhere else.
Reapplication pending
A reapplication has been submitted and has not been assessed yet.
What to do Check the official service again later for the result of that reapplication.
Not approved 7
Declined
The application did not pass one or more checks. On its own this tells you very little, because the reason attached to it is what matters.
What to do Find the reason shown with the decline, then read that reason below.
Alternative income source identified
The checks found money coming into an account linked to you during that period, above the level that applies. It is one of the most common SRD decline reasons.
What to do If that finding is wrong, an appeal for that specific period is where you say so. Appeals are free.
Identity verification failed
Your details did not match the records that were checked. This is often a data mismatch rather than anything you did.
What to do Check that the details on your application match your ID document exactly, and follow the official service's instructions to correct or verify them.
Existing grant identified
The records show you already receive another grant, and the rules do not allow both at once.
What to do If you do not receive another grant, this is a records error and the appeal is where you raise it.
Registered for another benefit
The checks found you registered with another government scheme or on a payroll during that period.
What to do If the registration has ended or the record is wrong, lodge an appeal for that period and keep any proof you have.
Age criteria not met
The date of birth on record falls outside the range for the grant applied for.
What to do Check the date of birth on your application against your ID. If the record is wrong, that is corrected through the official service.
Deceased
The records checked show the ID number as deceased. This is distressing to see and is almost always a records error.
What to do This has to be corrected at Home Affairs, because the grant service reads that record. Do that first, then follow up on the application.
Something is needed from you 3
Bank details pending
An approved result cannot be paid until valid banking information has been submitted and verified.
What to do Submit or confirm your banking details on the official SASSA service only. Never send them to a third party.
Reapplication required
A new application or a confirmation step is needed before the assessment can continue.
What to do Complete it on the official service. There is no fee.
Contact details required
The service needs a working contact number, usually the one used when applying.
What to do Update it through the official service. Do not use anyone who offers to change it for you.
What to do next
Once you know what your result means, these guides cover the step that follows.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check my status on this website?
No. Grant Assist SA is an independent information website with no status database. This page explains what a result means; the official service is where you check your own.
My status changed from approved to declined. Was my grant cancelled?
For SRD, no. SRD is assessed every month, so each month has its own result. A different result in a new month does not mean the application was cancelled.
Why does my status say declined with no reason?
A reason is normally shown alongside the result. If you cannot see one, check the official service directly rather than relying on a screenshot or a message someone sent you.
What does alternative income source identified actually mean?
It means the checks found money coming into an account linked to you during that period. If that finding is wrong, an appeal for that period is the way to say so.
My status says deceased. What do I do?
It is almost always a records error. It has to be corrected at Home Affairs first, because the grant service reads that record.
How long does pending take?
Nobody outside SASSA can tell you, and we will not guess. Anyone quoting you a specific number of days is not working from official information.
Is the wording on this page official?
No. It is the wording applicants commonly report. SASSA changes its wording, so the official service is always the authority.
Where to check your own result
This page explains wording. For anything about your own application, use the official services:
- The result on your own application
- The reason attached to a decline
- Lodging an appeal and checking its outcome
- Submitting or correcting banking information
- Correcting personal details on an application
Check the address in your browser before entering anything.
How we handle status wording
Described, not quoted
We describe results as applicants commonly report them, because the official wording changes and we do not present changing wording as settled.
Reason before response
Every entry pairs what a result means with what it asks you to do, because the reason attached to a status is what decides the next step.
No timeframes
We do not state how long any status takes. Nobody outside SASSA can, and a confident number is a warning sign.