What Happens To Nsfas Financial Eligibility If Parents Aren't SARS Registered?

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a South African government student financial aid scheme which provides financial support to disadvantaged students who wish to further their studies at public universities or TVET colleges.

It is a crucial resource for many students, but what happens to a student’s NSFAS financial eligibility if their parents aren’t registered with the South African Revenue Service (SARS)?

NSFAS Financial Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for NSFAS, applicants must come from a family with a combined annual household income of not more than R350,000 per annum. In the case of students with a disability, the combined annual household income may not exceed R600,000 per annum.

Impact of Parents’ SARS Registration Status

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is responsible for managing the nation’s tax and customs system. Its duties include collecting all due revenues, ensuring maximum adherence to tax and customs laws, and offering a customs and excise service that promotes lawful trade while safeguarding the economy and society.

Whether a student’s parents, guardians, or spouse are registered with SARS or not can affect their chances of getting NSFAS funding. However, this does not mean that students without SARS-registered relatives are automatically rejected by NSFAS.

Students can still show that they qualify for financial aid by submitting other forms of income evidence. This way, they can follow the NSFAS rules and still apply for funding.

Alternative forms of income evidence

In addition to the primary documents, the following alternative proof of income documents are also accepted:

A certified or official copy of a recent payslip, letter of employment (not older than three months) for each parent, the person who supports you, your guardian, or yourself if you are employed. This applies to all types of employment and all forms of income for all members of the household, including any income received from SASSA grants, Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), or any retirement, life, disability, or other benefits paid as a lump sum or in monthly payments.
If your parents, the person who supports you, or your legal guardian are retired, you need to provide a copy of an official pension slip or bank statement showing pension payment.
If your parents, the person who supports you, or your legal guardian work as an informal trader, an affidavit signed by them to confirm this employment is required.
In case either of your parents is deceased, a certified copy of the death certificate is required.
If your parents are divorced, a certified copy of the divorce decree is needed.
If either of your parents does not live at home, an affidavit explaining the reasons is required.
A certified copy of a SASSA letter is required if any of your family members are receiving a social grant and are also contributing to your household income. This also applies to your legal guardian.
If a dependent in your household is a student, proof of registration or acceptance at a TVET college or university for each dependent is required.

Conclusion

To sum up, your parents’ SARS status can affect how you apply for NSFAS aid, but it does not mean you cannot get it. If you show other income documents, you can still prove alternative proof of income, students can still demonstrate their financial need and potentially secure NSFAS funding.