Grants

SASSA Foster Child Grant 2026

The Foster Child Grant pays R1,290 per foster child per month from 1 April 2026. Court order required. No income means test. Here's how to apply.

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

At a glance

Per child

R1,290/mo

Court order

Required

Section 156

Means test

None

Income not assessed

Apply

SASSA office

In person, free

Who qualifies

You have a Children's Court order placing a child in your foster care (Section 156, Children's Act)
You are a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee
You and the foster child both live in South Africa
The child is under 18 (or under 21 if still in school)
The court order is current — not lapsed

Foster vs Child Support Grant — the key difference

The Foster Child Grant (R1,290/month) requires a Children's Court order. The Child Support Grant (R580/month) requires only that you are the primary caregiver. Where there's no court order but you're caring for a relative's child, you can claim CSG + the R280 kinship top-up (R860/month total) — which avoids the long court process but pays less than full foster care.

Documents needed

Children's Court order placing the child in your foster care (Section 156 order)
The child's birth certificate
Your South African ID
Your spouse's ID if married
Refugee status / permit if not a citizen
Banking details for grant payment
Proof of residential address
Death certificates of biological parents (if applicable)

How to apply — step by step

1
Obtain the Children's Court order

This is a prerequisite. The court process involves a Section 159 social worker investigation and can take 3–9 months. Apply via your local Children's Court with a Department of Social Development designated social worker.
2
Visit your nearest SASSA office

Bring the court order plus all the documents above. Foster grant applications cannot be submitted online.
3
Complete the application form

A SASSA official helps you fill it in. You'll be photographed and fingerprinted.
4
Choose payment method

Bank account in your name, Post Office cash collection, or participating retailer (Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite, Checkers).
5
Keep the case reference

SASSA must respond within 90 days. If approved, payment backdates to your application date.
6
Renew the court order every 2 years

Foster placements lapse if the court order isn't renewed. SASSA stops paying when the order expires. Set a calendar reminder.

The court-order backlog

South Africa's Children's Courts are heavily backlogged. Foster care orders can take 6–12 months to issue, and many lapse before renewal. This was the trigger for the 2025 R280 kinship top-up — to give relative caregivers an interim option while they wait for or skip the formal foster process.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the SASSA Foster Child Grant in 2026?+

From 1 April 2026, the Foster Child Grant pays R1,290 per child per month. This is a R40 increase from the R1,250 in 2025.

Who qualifies for the Foster Child Grant?+

A foster parent or legal guardian with a Children's Court order placing a child in their care. You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee, and you and the child must both live in SA. Unlike the Child Support Grant, the Foster Child Grant is NOT subject to an income means test.

Do I need a court order?+

Yes — the Foster Child Grant cannot be granted without a Children's Court order placing the child in foster care. This is the key difference from the Child Support Grant. The court order names you as the foster parent under Section 156 of the Children's Act.

How long can I claim the Foster Child Grant?+

Until the child turns 18 — or 21 if the child is still in full-time secondary or tertiary education when they turn 18. Court orders typically need renewal every 2 years; SASSA stops paying if the order lapses.

Can I claim multiple Foster Child Grants?+

Yes — there's no SASSA-imposed cap on the number of foster children per caregiver. However, courts typically don't place more than 6 children per household.

Is the R280 kinship top-up the same as Foster Care?+

No. The R280 kinship top-up (introduced in 2025) applies to the Child Support Grant for caregivers who are not biological parents but also don't have a formal court order. The Foster Child Grant at R1,290 is a separate, larger benefit specifically for court-ordered foster care.

How long does the Foster Child Grant application take?+

SASSA must respond within 90 days. In practice, court-order verification adds 4–8 weeks. If approved, payment is backdated to your application date.

Sources

· SASSA Foster Child Grant product page.
· Children's Act, 2005 (Act 38 of 2005), Section 156.
· Department of Social Development 2026/27 grant adjustment notice.
· Legal Aid South Africa — Foster Care Grant resources.

Compare

Child Support Grant

For disabled children

Care Dependency Grant

If declined

How to appeal