SASSA Child Support Grant

The Child Support Grant (CSG) is a payment from the government of South Africa, to a primary care giver of a child under the age of 18 years old. The primary care giver can be a parent, grandparent or anyone over 16 years old that is the main person responsible for caring for the child. The grant is for residents from lower-income households, who need financial assistance to help take care of a child or children.

Each primary care giver may receive a Child Support Grant for up to 6 children, who are not their legal or biological children.

The value of the basic Child Support Grant is R530 per child, per month, as of 1 April 2024. This is an increase of R20 per grant. SASSA introduced the top-up CSG to assist relatives or primary care givers to provide for an orphans basic needs. The top-up amount is R250 per child, per month. Therefore, the total Child Support Grant is R780 per child, per month. The next increase will be in April 2025.

SASSA Child Support Grant

If you would like to find out more about the Child Support Grant, carry on reading as we answer the following:

  • What are the requirements to apply for the Child Support Grant?
  • What is the Means Test for the Child Support Grant?
  • How do I apply for the Child Support Grant?
  • When will I receive the outcome of my Child Support Grant?
  • How will I get paid my Child Support Grant?
  • Why was my Child Support Grant application suspended?
  • Why did my Child Support Grant application lapse?
  • How do I contact SASSA for any queries I have regarding my Child Support Grant application?

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SASSA CHILD SUPPORT GRANT

In order to apply for the SASSA Child Support Grant, it is important that you meet the criteria to apply (note that these criteria are subject to change). The criteria is as follows:

  • You must be a South African Citizen, a Permanent Resident or a Refugee
  • You and the child must both reside in South Africa
  • You must be the primary care giver of the child (you may be the parent, grandparent or anyone over 16 years old that is the main person responsible for caring for the child)
  • You must NOT be receiving any payment to care for the child
  • The child must be under 18 years old
  • The child must be attending school, if they are of school going age
  • The child must NOT be receiving care in a state institution
  • You and your spouse must meet the requirements of the means test (see more below)

READ ABOUT: Other types of grants
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MEANS TEST FOR THE SASSA CHILD SUPPORT GRANT

SASSA awards social grants based on a means test. A means test is a method of evaluating an applicants income to determine whether they qualify for a grant.

To pass the means test, single applicants must not earn more than R61 200 per year, while married applicants must not earn more than a combined income of R122 400 per year (these are the thresholds as of 1 October 2023).

Applicants who are married will have half of the annual joint income taken into consideration. 

APPLYING FOR THE SASSA CHILD SUPPORT GRANT

To apply for the Child Support Grant, you should visit a SASSA office close to you or you may apply online (read instructions on how to apply online via the SASSA services website here).

If you are unable to visit the SASSA office yourself, due to being too sick, old or disabled, you may have a family member or friend apply for you, by way of a power of attorney. This person is your procurator and they will be able to legally apply or receive your social grant on your behalf.

The application form is available at the SASSA office and must be completed in the presence of a SASSA officer. A SASSA officer will be able to assist you or your appointed person, to complete the application form if you or they are unable to do so.

You will receive a dated stamped receipt after completing your application, with the name of the SASSA official who assisted you. You will need to keep your receipt as proof of application.

The application process is completely FREE. 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING FOR A CSG

Applicants must take along the following documents when applying for the child support grant through SASSA (these must be original documents or certified copies):

  • The child’s birth certificate (if you do not have this document available, a SASSA official will assist you in filling out a sworn statement or affidavit form)
  • Your South African Identity Document (if you do not have this document available, a SASSA official will assist you in filling out a sworn statement or affidavit form)
  • Your spouses South African Identity Document, if you are married (if you do not have this document available, a SASSA official will assist you in filling out a sworn statement or affidavit form)
  • Proof of all household income – any of the following:
    • Payslips if employed or 3 months bank statements
    • UIF card if receiving UIF
    • Affidavit or a discharge certificate from your previous employer, if unemployed and not receiving UIF
    • Pension receipt if on pension
    • Proof of any child maintenance or proof that you have tried but are unable to receive maintenance from the other biological parent
  • Proof that you are the child’s primary care giver (if you are not the child’s parent) – any of the following:
    • affidavit from a police station
    • social worker’s report
    • affidavit from the child’s biological parent
    • letter from the child’s school principal

CHILD SUPPORT GRANT OUTCOME

Applications are assessed within 90 day, after which time you will be informed in writing, whether your application was approved or rejected. If you were rejected, SASSA will provide a reason for your rejection.

You will be able to request SASSA to reassess your application if it was rejected. Download the Application for Reconsideration of SASSA Grant here.

If after reconsidering, your application is still rejected, you may appeal to the Minister of Social Development.

Applicants will receive a notification in writing from SASSA, 3 months before applications are to be reviewed. The notification will inform you when and where the review will be conducted and what will happen after the review. Applicants who are bed-ridden will receive a home visit. After the review has been completed, you will receive a receipt of compliance.

HOW IS THE CHILD SUPPORT GRANT PAID

After your grant is approved, you will be paid on the date on which you applied. You can find the SASSA payment date here (it is usually around the 5th day of each month).

Your Child Support Grant will be paid in any of these 3 ways (depending on your preference):

  • Directly into your bank account (this must be a bank account in your name)
  • Collected in cash from approved pay points (using your SASSA gold card)
  • From specific institutions

CHANGING GRANT PAYMENT METHOD

Recently, a Postbank payment glitch left many grant recipients stranded and unable to access their grants. For this reason (or perhaps another reason), you may wish to change your grant payment method from the SASSA Gold Card into your own personal bank account.

If you would like your grant to be paid into your bank account, you will need to complete the Consent Form for Bank Payment of SASSA Grant, as well as provide the following documents: proof of identity (ID document/ birth certificate/ drivers license) and proof of bank account in your name (received from the bank) or 3 months bank statement showing your personal details (name and bank account number).

All of these documents must be submitted to a SASSA office near you. Alternatively, you may visit your nearest SASSA branch and they will assist you in how to change your payment method. Note that the new payment method will come into effect the following month.

If you are unable to collect your grant yourself, you may nominate someone to collect it for you.

The grant must be collected each month – if it is not collected for 3 months in a row, the grant will be cancelled and you will have to reapply. 

GRANT REVIEWS

You must provide proof of all incomes you receive in your application.

Applications are reviewed to verify that grant-holders still meet the criteria of the grant, to continue receiving the grant. Applications are reviewed to assess whether your circumstances have changed.

Applicants will receive a notification in writing from SASSA, 3 months before applications are to be reviewed. The notification will inform you when and where the review will be conducted and what will happen after the review. After the review has been completed, you will receive a receipt of compliance.

Applicants who are refugees will have their application reviewed when their refugee status expires. 

GRANT SUSPENSION

Your grant may be suspended due to the following reasons:

  • Your financial circumstances change and you no longer pass the means test
  • You provided false or incorrect information in your application
  • You failed to co-operate when the grant is reviewed
  • Outcome of a review
  • The grant was approved when it should not have been

GRANT RESTORATION

If your grant was suspended due to any of the reasons above, you may apply to have the grant restored within 90 days of receiving the suspension. 

CHILD SUPPORT GRANT CANCELLATION

Your grant may be cancelled due to the following reasons:

  • The child no longer resides in South Africa
  • The child has reached 18 years of age – the grant will lapse on the last day of the month in which they turned 18
  • The child has died – the grant will lapse on the last day of the month in which they died
  • The child was admitted into a state-funded institution – the grant will lapse on the first day of the seventh month after the date they were admitted
  • The primary care giver does not claim the grant for 3 months in a row

CHILD SUPPORT GRANT NOTES

As a grant holder, it is your responsibility to:

  • keep SASSA updated with regards to changes to yours or the child’s personal and financial circumstances
  • keep SASSA updated with regards to changes to your physical address or contact details

Applicants must inform SASSA immediately of any changes to the above, as official notices are sent to your most recent address by registered mail. If you do not receive or act upon the notices, your grant may be suspended.

SASSA will not tolerate any fraudulent activities. 

CONTACT SASSA

For any further queries, please contact SASSA directly:
Contact the SASSA Toll Free Call centre on: 0800 60 10 11
Contact the SASSA Head Office on: 012 400 2322
Email SASSA Head Office at: Grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
Contact details of SASSA offices across the country: SASSA offices

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