South African Social Security Agency
Child Support Grant
National
R580 / month
Age 0–17
Ongoing intake
At a glance
Amount
R580 / month
Paid to
Primary caregiver
Child age
0–17 years
Income cap (single)
R60,000 / year
Income cap (married)
R120,000 / year
Application
SASSA branch (in-person)
Processing time
Up to 3 months
Backpay
From application date
Who qualifies
- South African citizen, permanent resident, or recognised refugee
- Primary caregiver of a child under 18
- Living in South Africa (child and caregiver)
- Single: earn under R60,000 per year
- Married: joint income under R120,000 per year
- Not receiving another grant for the same child
Who does not qualify
- Foster parents (apply for Foster Child Grant instead)
- Caregivers earning above the income cap
- Anyone caring for the child in a state institution
- Non-residents of South Africa
Documents you bring
- Your 13-digit barcoded ID or Smart ID card
- Child's original birth certificate (with ID number)
- Proof of residence (utility bill or affidavit)
- 3 months' bank statements or affidavit if no bank account
- Proof of income (payslip / UIF card / affidavit)
- Spouse's ID and marriage certificate (if married)
- Clinic card or immunisation record for the child
- School report (if child is school-going age)
All copies must be certified. Certification stamp must be dated within the last 3 months.
How to apply
- Gather the documents above.
- Visit your nearest SASSA branch early (queues start before 07:00).
- An officer captures the application directly on the SOCPEN system.
- You receive a stamped receipt with a reference number. Keep it.
- Application processed within 3 months. You get an SMS on the outcome.
- If approved, backpay is calculated from the day you applied, not approval date.
Cannot travel to a branch? A trusted person may apply on your behalf with your written authorisation, a doctor's note, and their own certified ID.
The caregiver does not have to be the biological parent
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, and unrelated caregivers all qualify if they are the primary caregiver (the person who lives with and looks after the child day-to-day). Biological parents do not automatically qualify if the child does not live with them. Bring a letter from a school principal, clinic, or ward councillor confirming who the child lives with; it clears the interview much faster than a bare affidavit.