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Children

Child Support Grant

FACT SHEET: CHILD SUPPORT GRANT

What is a Child Support Grant?

Our Constitution gives children special protection. It puts the responsibility on the Government to provide social assistance to children whose parents or primary caregivers are unable to support them financially.

Parents or primary caregivers can apply for this monthly payment on behalf of the children they look after.

How much is the Child Support Grant?

The amount changes every year, but from October 2008, the Child Support Grant is R220.00 per month.

Who can apply for a Child Support Grant?

Children who are under the age of 14 can apply for the grant if their parents or primary caregivers are unable to support them. From January 2009, children under the age of 15 will also be eligible to apply for the grant.

Government uses a means test to decide whether you qualify for a Child Support Grant. From June 2008, the means test says you must earn R2 100 or less per month in order to qualify for the grant.

Who is a primary caregiver?

A primary caregiver can be a parent, grandparent, or anyone who is mainly responsible for looking after the child.

If you are not the parent of the child, then you have to get the consent of the child's parent, guardian or custodian to get this grant.

You and the child must both be South African citizens. You must also both be living in South Africa when you apply.

You cannot get this grant for more than six children if the children are not your biological or legally adopted children.

How do you apply for a Child Support Grant?

You can apply for the Child Support Grant by filling in an application form at your nearest SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) office. You do not need to pay anything to make the application.

The application process should not take longer than two hours.

You will be interviewed, have your fingerprints taken, and given information on whether you qualify for the grant.

If you cannot go to make the application yourself, a friend or family member can bring a letter from you and a doctor's note saying why you can't visit the office yourself. A home visit can then be arranged.

What documents and information do you need to apply?

Your South African identity document (ID), which must be bar-coded.
The child's birth certificate, which must have an ID number.
Your salary slip, bank statements for three months, or pension slips, and any other proof of income.
If you are unemployed, proof from Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or a discharge certificate from your previous employer.
If you are not the child's parent or guardian, a written note of permission from the parent or guardian that you should take care of the child.
If you are not the child's parent or guardian, information about how you have tried to get the parents to pay maintenance.
Information that shows that you are the child's primary caregiver.

Can you apply without an ID book?

Yes, if you do not have a green South African identity book or any of the other necessary documents and you are in need of the Child Support Grant, you can still apply.

You will have to visit the SASSA office to undergo a screening process to check if you meet the requirements for the grant.
You will be advised to get a sworn affidavit commissioned by a commissioner of oath on a prescribed form that will be handed to you by the SASSA official.
You will also need a sworn statement by a reputable person (like a counselor, traditional leader, social worker, priest, school principal) who can verify that he/she knows you.

How is the Child Support Grant paid to you?

When you make the application for a Child Support Grant, you should say how you would like the money to be paid. The money can be paid out in the following ways:

In cash at a specific Pay Point on particular day;
Electronically deposited into your bank account (remember that normal bank charges apply to any money going in and out of your bank account);
Payments can be made to an institution (e.g. children’s home);
Or you can collect the grant money from a store (e.g. Spar) if SASSA has made an arrangement with that business.

You can decide to change the payment method at any time by filling in a form at a SASSA office, but the change will only happen a month later.

How long does it take to start getting the Child Support Grant?

It will take about thirty working days for your application to be processed and checked and either approved or refused.

If your application is refused, you will get a letter explaining why it has been refused and how you can appeal.

If it is approved, you will start getting payments within three months. The payments will be backdated to the day you applied for the grant.

You can find out what has happened to your application and when you can expect payment by telephoning the free SASSA telephone number 0800 601 011.

REMEMBER! You can claim temporary financial assistance from government in the form of Social Relief of Distress (SROD) while you wait for your grant to be processed and payments to be made. Social Relief of Distress is normally issued as a food parcel but can also be issued as a voucher or cash payment.

Do you need to renew the Child Support Grant?

Yes. After your application has been approved you will have to visit your SASSA office every year to update your details in order to continue receiving the grant.

When do Child Support payments stop?

Payments will stop if you die, if the child dies, when the child becomes too old, or if someone else starts looking after the child, or if your circumstances change in any other way so that you don't qualify for the grant anymore.

Your grant will be reviewed from time to time to check this.

REMEMBER! You must also inform the Department of any changes in your or your child's circumstances.

If you have any problems applying for the Child Support Grant, please contact the Black Sash office in your province.

“Everyone has the right to have access to social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance. The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of these rights” - Section 27 of the South African Constitution