Applying for a SASSA Grant without a Birth Certificate or ID Document

Did you know that children without birth certificate and caregivers without identity documents can apply for SASSA Grants? Most people do not know this, and this prevents them applying for social grants. If you meet all the criteria for a SASSA grant but do not have your child’s birth certificate or your own ID document, keep reading as we tell you how to apply without it.

What the law says about applying for social grants without an ID document or birth certificate

Section 27(1)(c) of the Constitution says that everyone has the right to have access to social security – this includes social assistance if they cannot care for themselves or their dependents.
Section 28(1)(c) of the Constitution says that every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services.

The South African government provides social services in the form of the Child Support Grant, as well as the Child Support Grant Top-Up. The CSG is for children under 18 years of age, from a poor household, while the Top-Up is for poor orphaned children living with relatives. SASSA also offers the Care Dependency Grant for children living with a disability and the Foster Child Grant for children placed in foster custody by the court. These grants can be applied for at a SASSA office or online.

When applying for any of these grants, one of the documents to be submitted is the child’s birth certificate and the caregivers identity document. These documents are required for SASSA to confirm the identity and age of the applicants. But there are instances where these documents are not available and in order to not deprive these candidates of their right to a social grant, the Regulation 13(1) was formed.

The Regulation 13(1) of the Regulations to the Social Assistance Act of 2004 includes an exception for birth certificates and identity document requirements for social grants applications. It states that SASSA must accept applications without ID documents or birth certificates. Caregivers must be given an affidavit by SASSA, to complete and sign, which must be accepted as proof of identification.

Reasons why some children may not have a birth certificate

They were born at home in a rural area
They were orphaned or abandoned and are cared for by relatives
They are cared for by unmarried fathers after the mother passed away or abandoned the child
They were born to mothers who do not have their own Identity document

How to apply for a social grant without an ID document or birth certificate

Visit your nearest SASSA office and inform the official that you do not have an ID document or birth certificate and would like to apply for a social grant in terms of Regulation 13(1). The SASSA official will guide you on how to apply using an affidavit in place of proof of identification.

Which documents can applicants provide instead of birth certificates or ID documents?

As mentioned above, applicants will need to fill in the affidavit provided by SASSA. They will also be required to submit any of these documents:

Roads to Health clinic card
Baptism certificate
Letter from a reputable person who knows the child and the applicant (this can be a councillor, social worker, religious minister, school principal or traditional leader)
Recent school term report or proof of attendance at school (SASSA documents and affidavits are available here)
Copy of your section 24 permit, if you are a refugee

What steps should I take after my SASSA grant is approved?

The next step is to visit the Department of Home Affairs to enquire how to apply for an ID document or birth certificate.

It may be helpful to get a referral letter from SASSA, to speed up the application process at Home Affairs. Remember to keep your receipt or proof of application. Next, take a copy of the receipt or letter to SASSA and request the SASSA official to accept this as proof of application for an ID or birth certificate and select the “DHA receipt” box on their online system.

Once you receive your ID document or birth certificate, take a copy to your SASSA office and ask them to update your application with it.

For more information, please read the booklet by the Children’s Institute and the Legal Resources Centre (LRC)
Here you will find answers to questions such as:

What to do if the security guard at SASSA will not let you enter the building to apply for a social grant, without an ID document or birth certificate
What to do if the SASSA official says they need proof of application for an ID document or birth certificate at Home Affairs, to process your grant application
What to do after SASSA approves your grant
What to do after you receive your ID document or your child’s birth certificate
Can SASSA cancel your grant if you do not submit your ID document or your child’s birth certificate
Can you apply for a Disability Grant without an ID document
What to do if a SASSA official refuses to help you
Other documents to take along when applying for a social grant

Here are some statistics, according to the Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town:

In 2017, around 500 000 children in South Africa did not have birth certificates (80% of them being SA citizens)
In December 2022, only around 50 000 children without birth certificates in South Africa, were receiving social grants
In December 2022, around 10 000 caregivers without ID documents were receiving social grants for their children

Read more about the different types of SASSA grants here:

SRD R350 Grant Care Dependency Grant Child Support Grant Foster Child Grant Disability Grant Older Persons Grant Grant-In-Aid War Veterans Grant

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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