Quick Answer: NSFAS Income Requirements
NSFAS applies a combined household income test. Whether you qualify depends on the total income of the household rather than on your own income alone, and the threshold that applies is set for each funding cycle.
A separate, higher threshold normally applies to students with disabilities. Recipients of certain social grants are generally treated as qualifying financially without a separate income assessment. Requirements.co.za is an independent information website. It does not administer NSFAS funding, receive applications or decide outcomes, and it cannot check your application status.
Who This Requirement Applies To
This guide is for applicants working out whether their household income is likely to fall within the limit, and for those whose application has been questioned or rejected on income grounds.
Eligibility Requirements
The assessment looks at household income rather than student income, which catches many applicants out. Whose income counts depends on your circumstances.
Applicant type
- Parents or legal guardians. Their income is normally included where you are financially dependent on them, whether or not you live with them.
- Spouse. Where the applicant is married, spousal income is normally included.
- Grant recipients. Households receiving certain social grants are generally treated as meeting the financial criterion.
- Students with disabilities. A separate threshold normally applies, supported by the relevant annexure.
Documents You May Need
Income evidence differs by income type, and supplying the wrong form of evidence is a frequent cause of delay. The scheme publishes what it accepts for each situation.
Required proof
- Payslips or an employment letter where household income is from employment.
- Evidence appropriate to self-employment or informal income where that applies.
- Proof of grant receipt where a social grant is the household income.
- A death certificate where a parent is deceased, or an affidavit or declaration where a parent is untraceable or does not support you.
- A disability annexure where the higher threshold is being claimed.
Steps to Apply or Prepare
Work out which household members income will be counted for your situation before you gather anything, since this determines what evidence you need.
Collect the evidence in the format the scheme accepts for that income type, and check that documents are current and legible.
Declare income fully and consistently. Information is verified against other records, and discrepancies are a common reason for rejection at verification stage.
Costs, Processing Times and Validity
There is no cost to apply or to be assessed. The income threshold, and the higher threshold applying to students with disabilities, are set by NSFAS and are reviewed between cycles, so confirm the current figures rather than relying on a threshold quoted elsewhere.
Common Mistakes and Delays
Common mistake
- Declaring only the student income rather than total household income.
- Omitting a parent income on the basis that the parent does not contribute, without supplying the declaration the scheme requires in that situation.
- Supplying evidence for the wrong period, or documents too old to be accepted.
- Assuming a previously published threshold still applies in the current cycle.
Where to Confirm Official Requirements
Confirm current criteria, thresholds, dates and required documents directly with NSFAS. The Official Requirements Sources South Africa page links to the responsible bodies. Where information here differs from what NSFAS currently publishes, follow NSFAS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NSFAS income threshold?
A combined household income threshold applies, with a separate higher threshold for students with disabilities. The figures are set by NSFAS and reviewed between funding cycles, so confirm the current threshold with NSFAS rather than relying on a figure published elsewhere.
Whose income is counted?
Generally the income of the household supporting the student, which commonly includes parents or legal guardians, and a spouse where the applicant is married. Confirm how this applies to your circumstances.
What if a parent does not support me?
There are normally declaration or affidavit routes for applicants whose parents are deceased, untraceable or not providing support. These require specific supporting evidence, so check what is currently accepted.
Do social grants affect eligibility?
Households receiving certain social grants are generally treated as meeting the financial criterion. Confirm which grants this covers in the current cycle.
Where can I confirm the latest income requirements?
Confirm directly with NSFAS, which sets and publishes the thresholds.