The Child Support Grant: Eligibility, Documents and Top-Ups

Who qualifies for the Child Support grant?

• You are the child's primary caregiver
• The child is under 18 and lives with you in South Africa
• You are a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee
• You and your spouse pass the means test
• The child is not cared for in a state institution
• You are not already receiving a grant for that child

A caregiver may claim for more than one child, up to the limit set in the regulations.

Can I claim if I am not the biological parent?

Yes. A grandparent, aunt, older sibling or family friend who is the child's primary caregiver can apply. You will need proof that you are the caregiver — an affidavit, a letter from the school or clinic, or a social worker's report — and the child's birth certificate. A court order is not required for the Child Support grant, unlike the Foster Child grant.

How does the means test work?

Your income — and your spouse's, if married — must be below the annual limit for the grant. Only the caregiver's income counts, not the child's. There is no asset test for this grant.

The exact figures are reviewed each April. They are not printed here until they have been checked against SASSA's own published notice — see how we verify. For the current amounts, ask SASSA on 0800 60 10 11 or check sassa.gov.za.

What documents do I need, and how do I apply?

1. Your ID (or refugee permit) and the child's birth certificate with an ID number. Without these, SASSA can accept a sworn affidavit and will help you apply to Home Affairs for the documents.
2. Proof of income for you and your spouse, or an affidavit if unemployed, and proof of marital status.
3. Proof you are the primary caregiver if you are not the parent.
4. Apply at a SASSA office, free. Keep the receipt as proof of the application date. A decision can take up to 90 days and is backdated to that date if approved.

What is the Child Support top-up?

An additional amount paid with the Child Support grant for an orphan being cared for by a relative — a child whose parents have both died or cannot be found. It was introduced so that family members caring for orphans do not have to go through the Foster Child court process. You apply for it at a SASSA office with proof of the parents' deaths or a social worker's report.

When is it paid?

On the children's grants day each month — the third date on the 2026/27 schedule, together with the Foster Child grant and Grant-in-Aid. The grant stops at the end of the month the child turns 18, or if the child dies, leaves your care, or you no longer pass the means test.

Does the Child Support grant stop me getting the SRD grant?

No. The Child Support grant is paid for the child, not to you as a beneficiary in your own right, so it does not count as "another grant in your own name". An unemployed caregiver aged 18 to 59 with income below the SRD threshold can hold both. If SASSA declines your SRD for existing SASSA grant and the only grant is Child Support, appeal that month.

Common questions