This grant is for the primary caregiver of a child. A primary caregiver is the person the child lives with, who looks after the child every day. This can be a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or older sibling.
You get R580 per month for each child. If the child is an orphan, you may get R830 per month (R580 plus a R250 top-up).
Who can get this grant?
- You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee.
- The child must be under 18 years old and live in South Africa with you.
- If you are not the biological parent, you can apply for a maximum of 6 children.
- If you are single, you must earn less than R5,800 a month.
- If you are married, you and your spouse must earn less than R11,600 a month together.
Documents to bring
Get copies of these documents certified (stamped) at a police station before you go:
- Your 13-digit South African ID (green book or smart card).
- The child's birth certificate.
- Proof of your address (a utility bill or a letter from a traditional leader).
- Proof of your income (3 months of bank statements or payslips), or an affidavit if you are unemployed.
- The child's clinic card (Road to Health Card) — only if the child is under 5.
- A school letter — only if the child is over 7.
- If you are not the biological parent: proof that you look after the child full-time (a police affidavit, a social worker's report, or a letter from the school principal).
Option A: Apply at a SASSA office (recommended)
- Go to your nearest SASSA office. Arrive early in the morning to avoid long queues.
- Bring all the documents listed above.
- A SASSA officer will help you fill in the application form.
- The officer will take your fingerprints and your photo.
- Keep your receipt! It has a reference number. Keep it somewhere safe — it is your proof that you applied.
Option B: Start online
- Go to the website services.sassa.gov.za.
- Register an account with your cellphone number and email.
- Choose "Apply for a Grant" and select Child Support Grant.
- Upload clear photos of all your documents.
- SASSA may still ask you to visit an office to check your original documents and take your fingerprints.
It can take 30 to 90 days to process your application. If you are approved, SASSA pays you back-pay from the day you first applied — not from the day it was approved.
To check your application status, log in to services.sassa.gov.za.
Applying for a SASSA grant is always 100% free. Never pay anyone who promises to "speed up" your application.