Grants

SASSA Child Support Grant 2026

The Child Support Grant pays R580 per child per month from 1 April 2026 — and an extra R280 top-up for orphans and kinship caregivers. Here's how the means test works, what documents you'll need, and how to apply.

Updated 12 May 2026 • By Thandi Mokoena • Fact-checked

At a glance

Per child

R580/mo

Orphan / kinship

R860/mo

+R280 top-up

Income limit (single)

R5,600/month

R67,200/year

Apply at

SASSA office

Free, in person

Who qualifies

You must meet all of these:

You're the primary caregiver of the child (parent, grandparent or another relative aged 16+)
The child is under 18
You and the child are South African citizens, permanent residents or refugees
You and the child are living in South Africa
Your income (combined household if married) is below the means-test threshold
You're not getting the grant for the same child from another caregiver
The child is not in a state institution (foster care home, state hospital, government children's home)

Income means test

Limit	Single caregiver	Married (combined)
Maximum monthly income	R5,600	R11,200
Maximum annual income	R67,200	R134,400

There is no asset test for the Child Support Grant — only income matters. SASSA verifies your income against SARS, UIF and bank records.

Documents you'll need

The child's birth certificate (unabridged) or temporary birth certificate from Home Affairs
Your South African ID (smart card or green book)
Your spouse's SA ID, if married
Proof of all household income — payslips, bank statements, or sworn affidavit if you have no income
Banking details for grant payment
Proof of residential address
If you're not the biological parent: an affidavit from a police official confirming you are the primary caregiver, OR a social worker's report, OR an affidavit from the biological parent, OR a letter from the principal of the child's school
If the biological parents have passed away: their death certificates (this unlocks the orphan/kinship top-up of R280)

How to apply

1
Go to your nearest SASSA office

You can't apply online. Find the closest office at sassa.gov.za or call 0800 60 10 11. Get there early — queues form before 7am.
2
Bring the documents (above) — for you and for each child

A separate application is needed for each child even if they share parents.
3
Complete the application form with a SASSA official

You'll be photographed and fingerprinted. The child does NOT need to be present.
4
Sign the declaration

You confirm under oath that the income and caregiver information is accurate.
5
Choose your payment method

Bank account in your name, Post Office cash collection, or a participating retailer (Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite, Checkers).
6
Get your stamped receipt and case number

Keep this — you'll need it to follow up if SASSA doesn't respond within 90 days.
7
Decision within 90 days

If approved, payment is backdated to your application date. If declined, you have 90 days to appeal.

The R280 orphan / kinship top-up

If the child is an orphan or you're caring for a child in a kinship arrangement (you're not the biological parent and not formally fostering), you can claim an extra R280 per month on top of the R580 — bringing your monthly payment to R860 per child.

To trigger the top-up you must provide the death certificates of both biological parents (for an orphan) or proof of the kinship caregiver relationship. The top-up was introduced in April 2025 specifically because formal Foster Care Grant applications take 6–12 months — kinship caregivers no longer have to wait.

Adding another child to an existing grant

If you already receive CSG for one child and want to add another (birth of a new baby, taking on a new dependant), you don't need to start a fresh application. Visit your SASSA office with:

The new child's birth certificate
Your existing CSG case reference
Updated proof of income if your circumstances have changed

The new child's grant typically starts paying within 60–90 days. Both children's payments arrive together on the same date.

When you'll be paid

Child Support Grants are paid on the third day of the staggered SASSA cycle — typically the 5th, 6th or 7th of each month, after Older Persons and Disability payments have gone out. For May 2026, CSG payments went out on Thursday 7 May 2026.

Full schedule on the 2026/27 SASSA payment dates page.

Scam alert

· SASSA does not charge a "facilitation fee". If a councillor, agent or community leader is charging you to "fast-track" your CSG application, it's fraud.
· Never share your bank card or PIN. SASSA only needs your account number and branch code.
· No-one can guarantee approval. Only SASSA can approve or decline a grant.
· Report fraud: SASSA hotline 0800 701 701 (toll-free).

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Child Support Grant in 2026?+

From 1 April 2026, the Child Support Grant is R580 per child per month. If the child is an orphan or in kinship care (with a relative who is not the biological parent and is not formally fostering), an additional R280 top-up applies, bringing the total to R860 per child per month.

Who can apply for the Child Support Grant?+

The primary caregiver — the adult who looks after the child day-to-day. This may be the parent, grandparent, older sibling (16+) or another relative. You don't have to be the biological parent; you just have to be the person actually caring for the child.

What's the means test for the Child Support Grant?+

A single applicant must earn under R67,200 per year (R5,600 per month). A married couple's combined income must be under R134,400 per year (R11,200 per month). There is no asset test for the Child Support Grant.

Up to what age does the grant pay out?+

Until the child turns 18. The grant ends in the month the child turns 18. There is no extension for children who stay in school past 18.

How many children can I claim the grant for?+

There's no limit on the number of biological children you can claim for. For foster or non-biological children you care for, SASSA accepts up to six per caregiver. Beyond six, additional applications are reviewed case-by-case.

Can I apply if I don't have the child's birth certificate?+

You can apply but you must obtain the birth certificate within 3 months. Bring an affidavit from a police official, social worker's report, or letter from the child's school to confirm the caregiver relationship in the meantime. Apply for the birth certificate at the nearest Home Affairs office at the same time.

What happens when I turn from age 16 to 18 as a caregiver?+

You must be 16 or older to apply, but if you're under 18 SASSA usually appoints an adult procurator to manage the payments on your behalf until you turn 18.

Can fathers apply for the Child Support Grant?+

Yes. Anyone who is the primary caregiver — including fathers, grandfathers and uncles — can apply. SASSA records show that fathers make up roughly 5% of CSG recipients in practice, but the legal eligibility is identical.

Sources

· SASSA Child Support Grant product page, sassa.gov.za.
· Western Cape Government social-grants information.
· South African Government Services Portal (gov.za) — Child Support Grant.
· Department of Social Development — 2026 grant increase announcements.

Check

Means test calculator

Foster Child Grant

If declined

How to appeal