South Africa · Child Support Grant · Eligibility
Independent informational guide · Last reviewed 4 July 2026
The SASSA Child Support Grant currently provides R580 per month for an eligible child who is in the care of a qualifying primary caregiver.
You do not have to be the child’s biological parent, but caring for a child does not automatically guarantee approval. SASSA assesses the caregiving relationship, the child’s age and residence, the caregiver’s status and the applicable income test.
What is the Child Support Grant?
The Child Support Grant is administered by the South African Social Security Agency to help an eligible primary caregiver meet some of the basic needs of a child under 18.
The payment is made to the primary caregiver, but the grant is intended for the child’s care.
It is separate from the Foster Child Grant and the Care Dependency Grant. The correct grant depends on the child’s circumstances, legal placement and care needs.
How much is the Child Support Grant in 2026?
From 1 April 2026, the Child Support Grant amount is R580 per month for each eligible child.
Who is considered a primary caregiver?
A primary caregiver is the person who takes the main responsibility for the child’s daily care and basic needs.
Depending on the circumstances, this person may be:
- ✓ The child’s mother or father.
- ✓ A grandparent or another relative.
- ✓ An unrelated person who is genuinely responsible for the child’s daily needs.
- ✓ In limited circumstances, a person older than 16 who heads a child-headed household.
A person who is not the biological parent may be asked to prove that they are the primary caregiver. Supporting evidence can include:
- ✓ An affidavit or sworn statement.
- ✓ A social worker’s report.
- ✓ An affidavit from a biological parent.
- ✓ A letter from the principal of the child’s school.
Main eligibility requirements
SASSA assesses each application individually. The main published requirements include:
- ✓ The applicant must be the primary caregiver of the child.
- ✓ The caregiver must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or recognised refugee.
- ✓ The caregiver and child must reside in South Africa.
- ✓ The child must be younger than 18 years.
- ✓ The child must be living in the primary caregiver’s care, and the caregiver must not be paid to look after the child.
- ✓ The child must not be permanently cared for in a state-funded institution.
- ✓ The caregiver and spouse, when applicable, must meet the Child Support Grant means test.
- ✓ The applicant must not apply for more than six children who are not biological or legally adopted children.
How the income means test works
The Child Support Grant is subject to a means test. SASSA considers the applicant’s income and, when the applicant is married, the spouse’s income.
Income that may need to be declared includes:
- ✓ Salary, wages or part-time employment income.
- ✓ Informal work or business income.
- ✓ Maintenance received for the child.
- ✓ Other income requested in the SASSA declaration or screening process.
Some older official pages still display previous numerical income limits. The 2026 grant booklet does not publish a clearly updated Child Support Grant threshold. Confirm the current rand limit directly with SASSA before relying on an older figure.
School attendance
For a child of school-going age, SASSA may request proof of school attendance.
However, official 2026 guidance states that failure to attend school or failure to submit proof of attendance should not, by itself, result in the refusal of the Child Support Grant.
Documents commonly requested
The exact documents depend on the family’s circumstances. Current official guidance includes:
- ✓ Certified copy of the applicant’s valid 13-digit barcoded ID or alternative identification accepted by SASSA.
- ✓ Identification for the spouse when the applicant is married.
- ✓ Valid Section 24 refugee permit when applying as a recognised refugee.
- ✓ Certified copy of the child’s valid birth certificate.
- ✓ Proof of marital status, where applicable.
- ✓ Latest payslip, not older than three months, for the applicant and spouse where applicable.
- ✓ Three months of statements for all active bank accounts held by the applicant and spouse.
- ✓ Confirmation letter or recent statements for the account intended to receive payment.
- ✓ Proof of maintenance received for the child, where applicable.
- ✓ Proof that the applicant is the primary caregiver when they are not the biological parent.
- ✓ Proof of school attendance for a school-going child, when requested.
SASSA may request additional information during individual screening. Keep copies of all documents and retain the application receipt or reference number.
Child Support Grant Top-Up for orphaned children
A related caregiver looking after an orphaned child may be considered for the Child Support Grant Top-Up.
From April 2026, the total published amount is:
The Top-Up is not a separate stand-alone grant. It is added to the standard Child Support Grant when the additional orphan-care requirements are met.
A related caregiver may need:
- ✓ Death certificates for both parents.
- ✓ An affidavit when one parent’s death certificate is available but the other parent’s status is unknown.
- ✓ The usual Child Support Grant documents and means-test information.
Child Support Grant or Foster Child Grant?
These grants are not interchangeable.
Child Support Grant
This grant is based on primary caregiving, the child’s circumstances and the caregiver’s means test. A formal foster-care court order is not ordinarily required.
Foster Child Grant
This grant applies when a child has been formally placed in a foster parent’s care by a court order. The Foster Child Grant is not subject to the usual caregiver income means test, but the court placement must remain valid.
How to apply
Applications may be started through the official SASSA Services Portal where the relevant online service is available. Applicants can also obtain assistance from a SASSA local office.
- 1 Confirm that you are the child’s primary caregiver and that the basic residence and age requirements are met.
- 2 Gather identification, the child’s birth certificate, income, marital and caregiving documents.
- 3 Register through the official portal or visit a verified SASSA local office.
- 4 Complete the application and answer the caregiving and income questions accurately.
- 5 Keep the receipt, application reference and copies of every document submitted.
Use the official SASSA Services Portal or contact a verified SASSA local office.
How long does the application take?
The published processing period can be up to three months.
When an application is approved, the date of award will normally be the valid application date, provided the application was complete and met all requirements.
Why an application may be unsuccessful
Possible reasons include:
- × The applicant is not recognised as the child’s primary caregiver.
- × The caregiver or child does not meet the residence or recognised-status requirement.
- × Household income exceeds the applicable means-test limit.
- × Required identity, birth, income or caregiving documents are missing or cannot be verified.
- × The child is 18 or older or is permanently cared for in a state-funded institution.
- × Information provided in the application is incomplete, inconsistent or incorrect.
Appeal or apply again?
An appeal may be appropriate when:
The applicant believes SASSA made an incorrect decision based on the information and circumstances that existed when the application was assessed.
An appeal for an ordinary social grant must be lodged within 90 days of receiving notification of the decision.
A new application may be relevant when:
The caregiving, income, residence or family circumstances have materially changed, or SASSA advises that a new application is required.
Reviews, suspended payments and when the grant ends
SASSA may review the grant to confirm that the caregiver and child remain eligible and that the personal and financial information is current.
A payment may be affected by:
- × A change in the caregiver’s or household’s circumstances.
- × The child no longer being in the beneficiary’s primary care.
- × Failure to cooperate with a review or verification process.
- × Missing documents, misrepresentation or fraud.
- × A grant having been approved in error.
The Child Support Grant may lapse when:
- × The child passes away.
- × The child is admitted to a state-funded institution.
- × The grant is not claimed for the applicable period.
- × The child is absent from South Africa beyond the permitted period.
- × The child reaches the age limit. The grant ordinarily ends at the end of the month in which the child turns 18.
This website cannot check whether an individual grant or payment is active. Contact SASSA for account-specific assistance.
Frequently asked questions
Official sources
Grant amounts, means-test limits and administrative procedures can change. Confirm important information through an official channel before applying or travelling.
- South African Government — Child Support Grant
- SASSA Services Portal — Grant information
- SASSA Services Portal — Online services
- SASSA Services Portal — Official forms
- Government Gazette — Social grant increases from April 2026
- Department of Social Development — You and Your Grant 2026
- Department of Social Development — Child Support Grant Top-Up
- SASSA official contact details
Grants enquiry email: GrantsEnquiries@sassa.gov.za