How to Apply for Child Support Grant

If you are among the needy and poor, you can get access to Child Support Grant which can help you raise the child you are looking after.

How do you know if you qualify for the grants?

You must:

• Be the child’s main guardian and caretaker, for example a parent, child over 16 years old that is leading the family, or even a grandparent. Please note that if you are not the child’s direct parent, then you should provide proof that you are the child’s primary guardian through an affidavit from a police official, social worker’s report, or an affidavit from the real biological parent or a letter from the principal of the school the child attended.
• Be a permanent resident or citizen of South Africa.
• Not earn more than R52 800 per year if you are unmarried and if married, not earn more than a total of R105 600 per year.

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The child should:

• Be under 18 years old
• Not be taken care of by any other state institution
• Live with the primary caretaker who shall not be payed to take care of the child in the first place.

Both you and the child shall be living/ present within South Africa.

Please note: You cannot get this Child Support Grant for more than a total of six children who are not your biological or legally adopted children.

How much will you get?

You will get a maximum amount of R500 per month. (Top-up R500 + R250)

Payment methods:

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will give all grants to you through one of the given methods:

• Cash given to you from a pay point on a specific day.
• Electric depositing into your Postbank account or your own bank. Please note the bank may charge you for service.
• Any institution that is acting as an administrator of the grant.

Note: If you can’t collect the money physically yourself, you can simply appoint a procurator at the SASSA office, or grant someone you trust the power of attorney to collect the grant on your behalf.

When may the review of the Child Support Grant begin?

SASSA will decide if the Child Support Grant will be reviewed or not. The decision will be dependent upon the income you specified when applying for the Child Support Grant. You will be informed of the review three months in advance or the date on which your life insurance (evidence that you are alive) is due. If you are given your money through the bank, a procurator or an institution, you will be required to fill in a life certificate for the child at your closest SASSA office every year.

When may the Child Support Grant be suspended?

The following will result in the suspension of the grants.

• A massive change in your circumstances
• the final outcome of your review
• if you fail to co-operate when the child’s grant is being reviewed
• when you commit fraud
• if there was a mistake during the child’s grant approval.
• if the child is out of your care.

When will the child’s grant lapse?

The grant will lapse if:

• The child passes away
• If the child is admitted to any sort of state institution
• If the guardian doesn’t collect the grants for 3 consecutive months
• If the child is not present in the country
• At the end of the month in which the child turns 18 years old

What you should do;

1. Go to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) office nearest to where you live and bring the following:
2. Complete the application form in the presence of the SASSA official (note that only you as the applicant or a SASSA official may complete the application form).
3. You will be given a receipt. Keep it as proof that you applied.
4. Your 13 digit-bar-coded identity document (ID) and the child’s birth certificate. If you don’t have an ID or the child’s birth certificate:
   • You must complete an affidavit in a standard SASSA format in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official.
   • Bring the following documents:
     • A sworn statement by a reputable person (e.g. councilor, traditional leader, social worker, minister of religion) who knows the applicant and child 
     • Proof that you have applied for an ID and/or birth certificate at the Department of Home Affairs
     • A temporary ID issued by the Department of Home Affairs (if applicable)
     • Baptismal certificate if available
     • Road to health clinic card if available
     • School report if available.
5. Proof of any maintenance you receive for the child.
6. Proof of your earnings.
7. Your marriage certificate (if applicable).
8. If you are divorced, the court order saying that you have custody of the child.
9. If one or both parents are dead or missing, the death certificate of the deceased or proof that the parent is missing, e.g. a missing person’s report from the police.

What if your application is not approved?

If for any reason your application for Child Support Grant is not approved, SASSA will give you a written reason on why your application was unsuccessful.

If you have any issues or doubts regarding the decision, you can appeal to the Minister of Social Development at the national office of the Department of Social Development. You shall send a written appeal to the minister within 90 days of first being notified of your unsuccessful application.

How long does it take

• It may take around 3 months to completely process your application.
• Once your grant is approved, you will begin receiving grants on the day you register.

How much does it cost?

The service is completely free.

Forms to complete;

There are no official online application forms, but you can apply from the closest SASSA office.