Non-SASSA Declaration Form | What is it?

If you are applying for NSFAS funding and you cannot easily provide or verify your parents’ or guardian’s details, one document you may need is the non-SASSA declaration form. Many students first hear about it when the message “Declaration: Non-SASSA” shows up on their myNSFAS account, which usually means your funding is on hold until you complete and upload this form.

In simple terms, the non-SASSA declaration form is an official NSFAS document that is used to verify your parental or guardian details. It applies to applicants who are 34 years old or younger and who are not SASSA grant recipients. You can download it for free from the NSFAS website, complete it, and have it confirmed by a registered social worker or the principal of the school you last attended.

Let’s look at what the form is, who needs it, who signs it, how to fill it in, and where to download it.

What is the Non-SASSA Declaration Form?

The non-SASSA declaration form is an official document from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Its main job is to verify your parental or guardian details when NSFAS cannot confirm them through its normal checks with SASSA and the Department of Home Affairs.

The “non-SASSA” part simply means you are not a SASSA grant beneficiary, so NSFAS has no grant record to confirm your household situation. Because of this, you are asked to declare your parent or guardian details yourself and to have that declaration confirmed by an authorised person. This form is part of the NSFAS student funding process, which is separate from the SRD grant that many South Africans apply for.

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It is worth clearing up a common myth. This form is not only for orphans. On the current form you tick the option that matches your situation, which can include knowing your mother or father and being able to provide their ID document or death certificate, or not knowing your mother or father or their whereabouts while depending on a guardian. So the form covers orphans, but it also covers students who are estranged from their parents, who depend on a guardian, or whose parent-child relationship simply cannot be verified by NSFAS. The important limit to remember is that this form only applies to applicants who are 34 years old or younger.

Who signs the non-SASSA declaration form?

The declaration has to be confirmed by one of two people. The first option is a registered social worker from the Department of Social Development, who signs the form and provides their SACSSP registration number. The second option is the principal of the school you last attended, who signs the form, provides the school EMIS number, and adds the official school stamp.

Only these two can verify the form. A teacher, a pastor, or a community leader cannot sign it, so choose the person who fits your situation before you start.

How to fill in the form

A rejected form only delays your funding, so it helps to complete it carefully. The form must be filled in using capital letters and black ink, and you should not use correction fluid at any point. If you make a mistake, the correction has to be initialled by all parties who signed. Fill in every section, including your full names and ID number exactly as they appear on your ID document, then sign and date it before the social worker or principal completes and signs their own section.

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Keep in mind that this is a legal declaration. If NSFAS finds that the information is false, you can be required to repay all NSFAS funds for every academic year, and you may face criminal liability. Honesty and accuracy protect both your funding and yourself.

Download the Non-SASSA Declaration Form in PDF

You can download the latest non-SASSA declaration form for free from the official NSFAS Downloads page. Click the button below to get the current PDF.

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If the “Declaration: Non-SASSA” message appears on your myNSFAS account, the form is usually made available to you there as well. Once you have completed and signed it, upload it through your myNSFAS account so your application can move to the next step.

What is a non-SASSA declaration form?

A non-SASSA declaration form is an official NSFAS document that is used to verify your parental or guardian details. It is signed by a registered social worker or the principal of your last school, and it applies to applicants who are 34 years old or younger and who are not SASSA grant recipients.

Why is it important to get a non-SASSA declaration form?

It is important because NSFAS cannot verify your parent or guardian details on its own, so your funding stays on hold until you submit it. Completing it correctly confirms your details and allows your NSFAS application to move to the next step without further delay.

Where can I get a non-SASSA declaration form?

You can get it for free from the official NSFAS Downloads page. If you received the “Declaration: Non-SASSA” message on myNSFAS, the form is usually provided to you there too, ready for you to download, complete, and upload.

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This guide explains what the non-SASSA declaration form is, who needs it, who can sign it, how to complete it, and where to download it. If you get the “Declaration: Non-SASSA” status on NSFAS, there is no need to panic. Download the current form, complete it in full with the help of a social worker or your former school principal, and upload it so that your funding application can carry on smoothly.