What is a SETA intern stipend and why does it disqualify me for SRD?

A SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) intern is enrolled in a learnership, internship or skills programme funded by one of the 21 SETAs. Interns receive a monthly stipend - typically R3,500 to R5,000 - to cover transport and living costs while training. The stipend is well above the SRD R624 monthly income threshold, so anyone currently receiving it does not qualify for SRD.

My SETA internship ended. Why is the database still flagging me?

SETAs do not always update their database when a learnership or internship ends. The host company may not have submitted the exit on the SETA system, or the SETA itself has a delay. Get a completion letter from the SETA (or from your host company) confirming your end date, plus a sworn affidavit, plus a bank statement showing no stipend deposits, and submit a reconsideration on the SRD portal.

I applied for a SETA programme but was not accepted. Why am I flagged?

Some SETAs keep all applicants in their database, even those not selected for a learnership. The SASSA cross-check sometimes wrongly treats database presence as active enrolment. Contact the SETA to confirm you were not selected and ask for a letter stating you are not currently enrolled. Submit it with your SRD reconsideration.

Can I get SRD R370 while on a SETA internship?

No. The stipend is normally R3,500 to R5,000 per month - well above the R624 SRD threshold. While the internship runs and the stipend is being paid, you do not qualify. Once the internship ends and the stipend stops, you can reapply for SRD straight away.

Where do I get a SETA completion or non-enrolment letter?

Contact the specific SETA that ran your programme - there are 21 SETAs covering different sectors (e.g. ETDP SETA for education, MQA for mining, INSETA for insurance). Get the SETA's contact details from the Department of Higher Education and Training website or your training certificate. Ask for a written confirmation that you completed your programme on [date] or that you are not currently enrolled.

SRD Declined - You're a SETA Intern

If your SASSA SRD status shows "SETA Intern", "Receiving SETA stipend", or "Learnership detected", SASSA's automated check found your ID in a SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) database. SETA learnerships and internships pay a monthly stipend - usually between R3,500 and R5,000 - which is far above the R624 SRD income threshold. So while the stipend is being paid, you do not qualify. The wrongful decline happens when your internship has ended but the SETA database has not been updated, or when you applied for a programme but were never selected.

Quick answer: Get a completion letter from your SETA or host company confirming your internship end date, plus a bank statement showing no stipend deposits in the assessed month, plus a sworn affidavit. Submit a reconsideration on srd.sassa.gov.za within 90 days.

What "SETA Intern" decline means

There are 21 SETAs in South Africa, each covering a different sector. Examples:

ETDP SETA - Education, Training and Development Practices.
MQA - Mining Qualifications Authority.
INSETA - Insurance.
BANKSETA - Banking.
MICT SETA - Media, Information and Communications Technology.
HWSETA - Health and Welfare.
W&RSETA - Wholesale and Retail.
FoodBev SETA - Food and Beverage Manufacturing.
FP&M SETA - Fibre, Processing and Manufacturing.
plus 12 more covering construction, agriculture, transport, services, etc.

Each SETA keeps a database of every learner, intern, apprentice and skills programme participant they fund. The SASSA cross-check asks "is this ID in any SETA programme?" - and if yes, declines the SRD application.

Common causes

You are currently on a SETA programme. The decline is correct - your stipend is above R624.
You completed a programme but the SETA did not record your exit. The most common reason for a wrongful decline. The host company should submit your completion on the SETA system within 30 days of the end date, but the submission is often delayed.
You applied for a programme but were not selected. Some SETAs leave all applicants in their database.
Your learnership was cancelled mid-way (for example, the host company closed). The SETA database may still show you as active.
You finished a short skills programme (a few weeks or months) but the SETA holds you on file for the full validity period of the funded programme.
You completed a learnership years ago but the SETA never archived the record.

How to fix it

Step 1: Identify which SETA flagged you.
Phone the SASSA contact centre on 0800 60 10 11 or visit a SASSA office and ask which SETA your ID was found in. Without this, you do not know which SETA to contact.
Step 2: Get a completion letter or non-enrolment letter from the SETA.
Contact the SETA's learner support office (each SETA has one). Ask for: a written confirmation that you completed your programme on [date] - or a confirmation that you are not currently enrolled in any active programme. The letter must be on the SETA's letterhead.
Step 3: Or get a letter from your former host company.
If the SETA is slow, the host company that ran your placement can also write a letter confirming your end date. The letter must be on the company's letterhead, signed by HR or the training manager, and state your role, start date, end date, and that you are no longer receiving a stipend.
Step 4: Sign a sworn affidavit.
Write: "I completed my [name of programme] internship/learnership with [SETA name] on [end date]. I am no longer receiving any SETA stipend, learnership allowance, or training payment of any kind." Free at any SAPS station.
Step 5: Pull 3 months of bank statements.
The assessed month plus the month before and after. The statements must show no stipend deposits from a SETA, a training host, or a payroll service used by SETAs (Bytes, Servest, ABSA Educator Trust, etc.).
Step 6: Submit a reconsideration on the SRD portal.
Go to srd.sassa.gov.za within 90 days of the decline. Log in, find the declined month, upload all the proof, and write a short explanation. Wait 30 to 90 days for the review.

If you ARE currently on a SETA internship

If you are currently in a SETA-funded programme and receiving a stipend, the decline is correct.

You are not eligible for SRD R370 while the stipend exceeds R624 per month - which it almost always does.
Once the programme ends, the stipend stops and you can reapply for SRD from the next month onwards.
The two payments cannot run together - even if you applied for SRD before the internship started, the system catches up retrospectively and will reclassify those months (see our debtor decline guide).
If your stipend is somehow below R624 (rare - some short skills programmes have lower allowances), then you may qualify. Appeal with proof of the actual stipend amount on your bank statement.

Sample appeal wording

"I completed my [internship/learnership/skills programme] with [SETA name] at [host company] on [end date]. I am no longer receiving any SETA stipend. Attached: completion letter from [SETA or host company] dated [date], sworn affidavit, and 3 months of bank statements showing no stipend deposits. Please reconsider this decline."

Finding SETA contact details

The full list of 21 SETAs and their contact details is on the Department of Higher Education and Training website at dhet.gov.za. You can also find each SETA's own website - for example etdpseta.org.za, mqa.org.za, banksetacareer.co.za. Look for the "Learners" or "Beneficiaries" section for the support phone number or email.

Your training certificate or learner agreement should also have the SETA's contact details printed on it. If you cannot find your paperwork, the host company that ran your placement should be able to point you at the right SETA.

Common mistakes

Contacting the wrong SETA. There are 21 of them - make sure you contact the one that funded your specific programme.
Submitting only a bank statement. A clean bank statement alone is not enough - SASSA needs a SETA or host-company letter confirming your end date.
Confusing NSFAS with SETA. If you were on a TVET college bursary funded by NSFAS, the decline reason should be NSFAS-registered, not SETA - see our NSFAS-registered decline guide.
Missing the 90-day deadline. Reconsiderations after 90 days are not accepted.
Submitting after partial month payments. If your internship ended mid-month and a final stipend was paid, the bank statement for that month will show the deposit. Wait one full month after the final stipend and reapply for the next clean month.

How long does this take?

Getting a SETA completion letter: 1 to 6 weeks depending on the SETA's responsiveness.
Getting a host-company letter: usually quicker - 1 to 3 weeks.
Reconsideration review: 30 to 90 days.
ITSAA appeal if reconsideration is also declined: 30 days to lodge, then 60 to 90 days for a decision.
End-to-end: 2 to 5 months in most cases.

See how long does each SASSA step take? for the full timeline.

FAQ

What is a SETA intern stipend?: A monthly payment of around R3,500 to R5,000 paid to learners and interns on a SETA-funded learnership, internship or skills programme. It covers transport and living costs while training.
My SETA internship ended. Why am I still flagged?: The SETA database was not updated when your programme ended. Get a completion letter from the SETA or host company and submit a reconsideration.
I applied but was never accepted. Why am I flagged?: Some SETAs keep all applicants in their database. Ask the SETA for a non-enrolment letter and submit it with your reconsideration.
Can I get SRD while on a SETA internship?: No. The stipend exceeds the R624 SRD threshold. Once the internship ends, you can reapply.
Where do I get a SETA completion letter?: Contact the specific SETA that funded your programme. There are 21 SETAs - contact details on the DHET website at dhet.gov.za, or check your training certificate.

Related SASSA pages

Sources

South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) - sassa.gov.za
SASSA SRD Portal - srd.sassa.gov.za
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) - dhet.gov.za
Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 - establishing the SETAs
Department of Social Development - dsd.gov.za

About this guide: maintained by OurPower and updated regularly to reflect current SASSA procedures and payment amounts.

Last updated 14 June 2026. Maintained by OurPower Editorial. About OurPower.

Disclaimer: We are not associated with SASSA in any way. We provide independent information to help you. For official info visit www.sassa.gov.za or call the toll-free line 0800 60 10 11 or email GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za.

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