Child Support Grant [2024] - A Complete Application Guide

To support the citizens, the South African government offers various types of social assistance. The South African Social Security Agency is the governing body which manages this process. These grants are divided according to every type of person, whether you are an old person, a war veteran, a disabled person, etc. Similarly, SASSA also offers a child support grant to provide enough facilities for taking care of a child.

What is the child support grant? – The child support grant is a social grant offered by SASSA to provide financial assistance to parents who are from lower-income households with the cost of the basic needs of their child. This grant aims to bridge the gap in the cost of living and not to replace your income source.

Taking care of a child in this era is very expensive and that’s why this grant is helpful for parents. Each primary care given can receive child support grants for up to 6 children who are not legally or biologically related. Let’s understand how the child support grant works and who qualifies for it.

SASSA Child Support Grant Eligibility Criteria

Social grants are not meant for everyone, only needy people should receive them. To receive a child support grant you have to meet certain eligibility requirements. You as an applicant must meet the following criteria –

The primary caregiver must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee.
You and a child both must reside in South Africa.
You must be the primary care give of a child (you may be the parent, grandparent, or anyone over 16 years of age who is the main person responsible for taking care of a child)
The child/ children must be born after 31 December 1993
You and your spouse must meet the means test requirements (if married).
The child/ children must be under 18 years old.
The Child must not be cared for in a state institution.
You must not apply for more than six non-biological children.

Means Test Requirements for SASSA Child Support Grant

Social assistance is not required for everyone. So SASSA has set the financial criteria called the means test which evaluates the income and assets of the person applying as well as their spouse to determine whether the person’s means are below a stipulated amount.

As per the latest means test criteria of 1 October 2023, if you are a single person then your income should not surpass R61 200. If you are married then you and your spouse’s combined income should not be more than R122,400.

The means test criteria vary from one grant type to another. So you must check it before applying for other grants.

How much is the SASSA Child Support Grant Amount?

From 1 October 2023, SASSA offers a grant payment of R510 per child per month. Generally, the grant amount increases after the national budget speech. Child support grant is expected to increase by R10 from 1 April 2024.

To provide additional financial assistance to the main caregivers, SASSA started a child support grant top-up on 1 April 2022 so that they can fulfil the basic needs of the child. From 1 April 2023, a top-up amount of R250 per child is paid to the beneficiaries.

By combining both the main amount and the top-up amount, the child support grant amount goes up to R760 per month per child.

How to apply for the SASSA Child Support Grant?

There are two ways by which you can apply for the child support grant. You can apply for the grant using an online method or you can visit your nearest SASSA office to apply via an offline way. You can visit the SASSA service website for an application.

For offline applications, you have to fill out the application form. These forms are not available on the Internet. When you visit the SASSA office, you will get the application form there. Complete the form in the SASSA office itself in the presence of a SASSA officer.

If you are too old or sick and unable to visit the SASSA office then you can appoint anyone from your friends or family to apply on your behalf. When you submit the form, the SASSA officer will take your interview and will tell you if you qualify for the grant.

Once the application is completed and submitted to the SASSA officer, you will receive the dated stamped receipt with the SASSA officer’s name on it. You must keep this receipt as proof of your application.

Documents Required for Child Support Grant Application

To prove your eligibility for the grant, you have to submit the required documents for it. So when you visit the SASSA office, remember to take the following documents with you –

Your 13-digit bar-coded Identity document (ID) and child’s birth certificate. If you don’t have a child’s birth certificate or ID then you must –
Fill out the affidavit form on the SASSA standard affidavit template. This affidavit must be completed in the presence of the Commissioner of Oaths who is not affiliated with SASSA. You can download the affidavit form or SASSA officials will provide you on your visit.
Bring the following documents with you –
A sworn statement by a reputable person (like a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, minister of religion, or a school principal) who can verify the child and your identity.
Proof that you have applied for the ID or birth certificate at the Department of Home Affairs.
A temporary identity document (ID) issued by the Department of Home Affairs. (if applicable)
Baptismal certificate (if available)
A school certificate (if available)
Road to health clinic card (RTHC) (if available)
If you are divorced and the child is yours then submit the court order granting you custody of the child.
your marriage certificate (if married)
If one or both parents are dead or missing then submit the death certificate of the deceased or proof that the parent is missing.
If you are not the biological parent of the child then submit the following proofs to prove that you are a primary caretaker of the child.
Letter of a school principal from the school attended by the child.
The sworn statement obtained from the police station
Written permission from a biological parent indicating that you should take care of the child
Report from social worker
Proof of your earnings –
Payslips if you are employed or your last 3 months bank statement.
UIF card if you receive UIF benefits
Pension receipt if you receive a pension
Proof of child maintenance or proof that you tried but are unable to receive maintenance from the other biological parent.

The Child support grant aims for the child to attend school regularly and complete their education. But even if the child doesn’t attend the school, it will not result in the rejection of the child support grant.

How much time does it take to process the SASSA child support grant application?

Now you have applied successfully and your application is sent to SASSA for review. SASSA takes 30 days to 3 months to process your application for a child support grant. Your application must be approved to receive the benefits of this grant. You will get the payment from the day you applied.

If your application is not approved and gets rejected by SASSA then they will provide a written explanation why your application is rejected. If you don’t agree with SASSA’s decision then you can submit the appeal to challenge this decision.

How to check SASSA Child Support Grant Status?

After you submit your application, you should regularly check your application status. It is important to stay updated with your application to receive the grant payment successfully. This can be easily done by using any status check tool available online or you can visit the SASSA service website for it. You can use the following methods to check the application status –

Through the official SASSA website – https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status
Through the Moya App. If you don’t have internet access.
SMS to SASSA at number 082-046-8553
Through SASSA Whatsapp Number 082-046-8553
Contact SASSA Toll-Free number 0800-601011

What should I do if my child support grant application is declined by SASSA?

SASSA will reject your application only if you fail to meet the eligibility requirements or you are found in any fraudulent activities. But if you think SASSA rejected your application without any reason then you can ask them for reconsideration of your application. If they don’t agree to reconsider then you can submit the appeal.

The appeal must be submitted to ITSAA, which is a concerned body of the Department of Social Development, within 90 days of receiving the notification. If you are unaware of the process then you can contact the regional SASSA branch for guidance. The officials will explain the complete process.

The ITSAA committee will review your application. If they agree with your application then they will reverse the SASSA’s decision and you will start to receive the grant payments. If they don’t agree with you then your appeal will be rejected.

Payment Process for SASSA Child Support Grant

The payment process for a child support grant is very easy. The payment schedule is not fixed, SASSA announces the payment dates for every grant at the end of the previous month. If your application gets approved, you will receive the payment from the day you applied for the grant.

SASSA has given three ways by which you can get paid your child support grant. You can choose any payment method suitable for you –

Direct Bank Transfer: Get your money deposited to your bank account directly using electronic transfer. The bank may charge you a service fee for this.
Cash Payment: You will get the money in cash from SASSA-partnered retail outlets such as Pick nPay, Shoprite, Boxers, Checkers, Usave and Spar.
Institutions: Receive your grant money from specific institutions that are not SASSA-funded. (ex. Old age homes, NGOs, etc)

To receive the money in a bank account you have to give your consent. You have to submit the SASSA bank account consent form along with the following documents –

Proof of your Identity (Identity Document or birth certificate)
Bank account number that is registered in your name
Last 3 months bank statement that clearly shows your name and account number on it.

If you submitted another person’s or family member’s bank account number during the initial application then you should update your bank details as soon as possible. Otherwise it may result in the rejection of your application. If you are unable to collect the grant by yourself then you can ask your family members to collect it on your behalf.

How to check the SASSA child support grant balance?

If you are completely dependent on the grant money to fulfil your basic needs then it is important that you manage your money wisely. For that you should regularly check your child support grant balance. You can do it via following ways –

Dial the USSD code 1203210# or 12069277# on your cell phone.
Visit your nearest ATM.
Message on SASSA WhatsApp Number 082 046 8553.
From the official SASSA website.
Call the SASSA Toll-Free number at 0800 601 011.

Why does SASSA conduct reviews for child support grants?

The social grants are offered on the basis of means test i.e. on the basis of your financial condition. It is possible that over the time you may not require any financial assistance from SASSA because of your changed circumstances. That’s why SASSA conducts the reviews to check your financial condition over time.

SASSA checks if you are still alive and fulfilling the means test criteria. If not then your grant will be cancelled. SASSA officials will notify you 30 days in advance of the date of the review or the date on which your life certificate is due. In the written notice the date and location of the review will be mentioned.

If you receive your grants from a bank or any institutions, you must submit your life certificate annually to the SASSA office. If you are a refugee applicant then your review will be conducted when your refugee status expires. SASSA will arrange a home visit if you are too sick or old.

Reasons for SASSA Child Support Grant Suspension

SASSA has advised the grant holder that if there are changes in beneficiaries’ circumstances or details then update it to SASSA as soon as possible. Failing to do so may result in the suspension of your grant. Possible reasons for grant suspension are –

Changes in circumstances (financial or medical)
You failed to submit the required documents.
You failed to cooperate when a grant was reviewed
The outcome of a review
You committed fraudulent activity or misrepresentation.
If your grant was approved in error.
If the child is no longer in your care.

Restoration of Child Support Grant

If you did not collect the child support grant for more than 3 consecutive months, your grant was cancelled in error or you failed to review your grant application then SASSA may suspend your grant. If such a case happens, you have to submit the application for the restoration of the grant within 30 days of the suspension.

Reasons for lapsing of Child Support Grant

Your child support grant payment will stop if any of the following situation happens –

If the child dies.
If the primary caregiver doesn’t claim the grant for more than 3 consecutive months.
If the child turns 18, at the end of the month.
The child is admitted to a state institution.
If the child is absent from the country.
Your financial condition has improved and you don’t fit the means test criteria.

SASSA Grant Beneficiaries Responsibilities

As an active SASSA grant holder there are certain responsibilities that you must fulfil –

SASSA never requests the PIN in any dealings with the beneficiaries.
Always safeguard your social grant card and do not divulge the PIN to anyone.
Always provide true and correct information, SASSA does not tolerate any fraudulent activities.
Keeping SASSA informed of changes in your circumstances and means, and responding to any correspondence received.

FAQs

The child support grant aims to assist parents from lower-income households with the costs of the basic needs of their child.

Yes, you can apply for any social grant online from SASSA official website.

You can use the SASSA status check tool to check the grant status.

Conclusion

Children are the future of any country. It is important that they get proper nourishment and education. These children will become wise citizens of the country in the future. The country with the most youth population will progress faster. The SASSA’s child support grant is very helpful for the betterment of South African citizens. If you qualify for this grant then apply now!

SASSA Contact Details

If you have additional queries or need any assistance with your child support grant application then you can reach out to SASSA directly via the following channels.