Are You or Your Parent a SASSA Grant Recipient?
If you or your parent/guardian receive a SASSA Child Support Grant, Old Age Pension, or Disability Grant, you do NOT need to submit proof of income. The Department of Social Development (DSD) automatically verifies your status electronically with NSFAS. You only need to submit your copy of ID and the signed Consent Form.
1. Mandatory Core Documents (Every Applicant)
Regardless of your household structure, all students must upload:
- Applicant ID Document: A clear, legible copy of your green barcoded South African ID book or both front and back sides of your Smart ID Card.
- Signed NSFAS Consent Form: Completed and physically signed by both the student and their parent(s)/guardian(s). This gives NSFAS statutory permission to verify financial records with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
2. Proof of Household Income by Employment Status
Submit the document matching your parents', guardians', or spouse's financial circumstances:
Formally Employed Parents
- Latest official monthly payslip (not older than 3 months).
- If paid weekly or fortnightly: Provide the latest 3 consecutive payslips.
- Must clearly display company name, parent name, ID, and gross/net salary.
Unemployed Parents / Guardians
- Official South African Police Service (SAPS) sworn affidavit.
- Must state: Full names, ID number, and explicit confirmation that the parent is currently unemployed without income.
- Must be dated within the current application window.
Informal / Casual Workers
- SAPS sworn affidavit confirming casual, seasonal, or informal trading work (e.g. domestic work, gardening, spaza shop).
- Must provide an honest estimated average monthly household earnings figure.
Pensioners & Retirees
- Official SASSA confirmation letter, or
- Latest 3 months' bank statements reflecting pension deposits, or
- Official pension fund annuity payout advice slip.
3. Special Family Circumstances
Upload the following legal documents if applicable to your household:
- Deceased Parents: A certified copy of the official abridged or unabridged Death Certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs. If both parents are deceased and no legal guardian exists, provide a signed social worker report or SAPS affidavit from an extended family elder.
- Divorced Parents: Official court-stamped Divorce Decree and maintenance settlement agreement.
- Single Mother / Father (Absent Parent): A sworn SAPS affidavit detailing that the other biological parent is absent, untraceable, or provides zero financial maintenance.
- Foster Care or Orphaned Youth: Valid court-issued Foster Care Order, letter from the Department of Social Development, or Children's Court order.
4. Applicants with Disabilities
Students with documented physical, sensory, or neurological impairments must submit the NSFAS Disability Annexure Form:
Disability Annexure Guidelines
The form must be completed and signed by a medical practitioner registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). This unlocks the higher household threshold (R600,000 p.a.) and additional assistive device allowances (e.g., specialized laptops with screen readers, braille equipment, wheelchair transport, or human support care).
5. Document Upload Specifications
Before pressing submit on myNSFAS, check that each file complies with the portal scanner requirements:
- Supported File Types: PDF, JPG, JPEG, PNG.
- Maximum Size: Each file must be less than 2 MB.
- Legibility: Text must be sharp and readable. Place documents on a flat, well-lit surface and take the photo directly from above without flash glare or casting shadows.
- File Naming: Use clear, simple filenames (e.g.
Student_ID_Card.pdf,Mother_Payslip_Sept2026.pdf) rather than automated camera names likeIMG_20261022_124500.jpg.