Child Support Grant 2026

Under SASSA's You and Your Grant booklet, you must:

• be a South African citizen, permanent resident or recognised refugee living in South Africa
• live in South Africa with the child
• be the child's primary caregiver
• have a child under 18 who isn't permanently cared for in a state-funded institution
• pass a means test on your income, and your spouse's if you are married

You can't claim for more than six children who aren't your biological or legally adopted children.

If you aren't the parent

The government's Child Support Grant page says a caregiver who isn't the parent must show it. One of these is enough: an affidavit from a police official, a report from a social worker, an affidavit from the child's biological parent, or a letter from the child's school principal.

Have that ready before you go.

R580 a month for each child. That is up R20 from April 2026, according to SASSA's 2026/27 announcement. Children's grants are paid last in the monthly cycle, after older persons and disability grants.

Relatives caring for an orphaned child can also apply for the Child Support Grant top-up, which SASSA's booklet describes as linked to the standard grant and subject to the same means test. It needs death certificates for both parents, or an affidavit if one parent's status isn't known. The top-up amount has changed over the years, so ask your SASSA office for the current figure.

The income limit

The limit is set in regulations and is updated every year. The government's own service page still carries R52,800 a year for a single caregiver and R105,600 for a married couple, a figure published in 2014. A Western Cape Government page gives R61,200 and R122,400. Both are undated.

An officer runs the test, so don't decide for yourself that you are over or under.

Bring certified copies. SASSA dates your application from the day your documents are submitted and checked, so a missing paper can push back the date you are paid from.

• Your 13-digit barcoded ID, and your spouse's if you are married. SASSA accepts approved alternatives if you don't have one.
• A certified copy of your Section 24 refugee permit, if you are applying as a refugee.
• The child's 13-digit birth certificate.
• Proof of marital status: a marriage certificate, a death certificate for a spouse, a divorce decree, or an affidavit in case of desertion.
• Your latest payslip, not older than three months, and your spouse's.
• Three months of bank statements for all active accounts, and your spouse's.
• A bank confirmation letter, or three months of statements, for the account you want to be paid into.
• Proof of school attendance, if the child is aged 7 to 18. Missing this won't, on its own, lead to the grant being refused.

If you aren't the parent, add one of the caregiver proofs above. The bank account must be in your name.

1. Collect your documents and your caregiver proof.
2. Go to your nearest SASSA office and ask for the Child Support Grant form.
3. Complete it in front of a SASSA officer.
4. Keep the receipt. It is your proof of when you applied.

Applying is free. Processing may take up to three months, and payment is backdated to the day you applied.

If you can't get to an office, SASSA allows someone to act for you as a procurator. That takes a Power of Attorney form, signed and fingerprinted by both of you in front of a Commissioner of Oaths, plus certified IDs and other documents. The booklet describes this for people who can't manage their grant. Ask the office first whether a procurator can lodge a new application.

SASSA says that if it can't give an outcome on the day, following up is your job. Visit the office where you applied, call 0800 60 10 11, or email GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za, and quote your receipt. The SRD status checker doesn't cover this grant.

A declined application gets written reasons. If you disagree, ask a SASSA official to help you lodge an appeal, or email Grantappeals@dsd.gov.za. You have 90 days from learning of the decision to appeal, under the appeal regulations. What each status means explains Pending and Declined on a permanent grant.

SASSA says it never asks for your PIN. To report fraud, call 0800 701 701.

If you look after a child under a Children's Court order, the Foster Child Grant is the one to apply for instead. It pays more and has no means test. The comparison of all SASSA grants shows the others.