How much is the Child Support Grant in 2026?

The SASSA Child Support Grant is R580 per child per month in 2026. If you are the primary caregiver for multiple children, you receive R580 for each qualifying child.

Who can apply for the Child Support Grant?

The primary caregiver of a child under 18 can apply - this can be the biological parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling or any adult who is the child's primary day-to-day carer. The caregiver must be a South African citizen or permanent resident and pass the means test.

Can I receive Child Support Grant and SRD at the same time?

Yes. The CSG belongs to the child, not the caregiver. You can receive CSG for your child and the SRD R370 for yourself simultaneously, provided you meet all SRD eligibility requirements.

Can a grandmother apply for the Child Support Grant?

Yes. Any adult who is the primary caregiver of a child under 18 can apply, including grandparents. The caregiver must hold a valid SA ID and pass the income means test (under R52,800/year if single).

What happens to the Child Support Grant when the child turns 18?

The CSG automatically stops when the child turns 18. You do not need to notify SASSA - the grant is linked to the child's birth certificate. If the child is still in school past 18, the grant still ends at 18.

SASSA Child Support Grant 2026 - Eligibility & How to Apply

💰 Grant Details - 2026

Quick Facts

Grant amountR580 per child per month

Child's age limitUnder 18 years old

Who appliesPrimary caregiver (not the child)

Caregiver income limit (single)R52,800 per year

Caregiver income limit (married)R105,600 per year

Multiple childrenR580 per qualifying child

Payment day6th of each month

Apply atNearest SASSA office

✅ Who Qualifies?

✅

Primary caregiver of a child under 18

Can be a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or any adult who is the child's primary day-to-day carer.

✅

SA citizen or permanent resident (caregiver)

The caregiver - not the child - must hold a valid SA ID and be a citizen or permanent resident.

✅

Caregiver income below means test

Earning less than R52,800 per year (single caregiver) or R105,600 per year (married/partnered).

✅

Child is South African and under 18

The child must be a South African citizen or permanent resident and under 18 years old.

❌

Child must not be in state care

If the child is cared for in a state institution (orphanage, children's home funded by government), the CSG does not apply.

❌

Only one grant per child

Only one caregiver can receive a CSG for any specific child. If another caregiver is already receiving it, you cannot also apply for the same child.

📋 How to Apply - Step by Step

Visit your nearest SASSA office

Child Support Grant applications are done in person. Use our office finder → to locate your nearest branch. Bring the child with you if possible.

Bring all required documents

Required: Your SA ID, child's birth certificate (unabridged, showing parent names), proof of your residence, proof of income or sworn affidavit if no income, your bank account details, and the child's Road to Health booklet (if available for children under 5).

Complete the application form

A SASSA official will help you complete the application. If you are not the biological parent, you may need an affidavit or court order confirming you are the primary caregiver.

For multiple children

You can apply for multiple children in a single visit. Each child will need their own birth certificate and the grant is assessed per child separately.

Approval and payment

Once approved, you receive R580 per child monthly on the 6th of each month. Payments are via bank transfer or Post Office. The grant continues until the child turns 18.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

The SASSA Child Support Grant is R580 per child per month as of April 2025. If you care for multiple children, you receive R580 for each qualifying child.
The primary caregiver of a child under 18 can apply. This can be the biological parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, or any adult who is the primary caregiver. The caregiver must be a South African citizen or permanent resident and pass the means test.
Yes. The Child Support Grant belongs to the child, not the caregiver. You can receive the CSG for your child and the SRD R370 grant for yourself at the same time, provided you meet all SRD eligibility requirements.
Yes. Either parent or any primary caregiver can apply. However, only one grant can be paid per child - if the mother is already receiving the CSG for a child, the father cannot also apply for the same child. The caregiver who is the primary day-to-day carer is the eligible applicant.

👶 Child Support Grant vs Foster Care Grant - Key Differences

Many caregivers confuse the Child Support Grant (CSG) with the Foster Care Grant (FCG). They are different grants with different requirements and amounts:

CSG vs Foster Care Grant - 2026

Monthly amountCSG: R580 per child | FCG: R1,180 per child

Who can applyCSG: Any primary caregiver | FCG: Court-appointed foster parent only

Court order requiredCSG: No | FCG: Yes (Children's Court)

Income means testCSG: Yes (R52,800/yr) | FCG: No means test

Age limitBoth: Under 18

If you are caring for a child informally (without a court order), you apply for the CSG. If you have a formal foster care placement from a Children's Court, you qualify for the higher Foster Care Grant.

📅 What Happens When Your Child Turns 18

The Child Support Grant automatically stops the month the child turns 18. You do not need to notify SASSA - the grant is linked to the child's ID number and birth date. Your final payment will be in the month of the child's 18th birthday.

If you have other children still under 18, those grants continue unaffected. If the child who turns 18 is now unemployed themselves and meets all criteria, they can apply for the SRD R370 grant in their own name.

👤 Applying When the Father Is Not on the Birth Certificate

This is one of the most common situations SASSA deals with. If the father is not listed on the child's birth certificate, it does not prevent you from applying. You will need:

An unabridged birth certificate (the long version showing parent details, or showing no father listed)
A sworn affidavit (from a police station or commissioner of oaths) confirming you are the primary caregiver and the father is absent or unknown
Your own SA ID and proof of residence

SASSA officials are experienced with this - bring all documents to your nearest office and they will guide you through the process.

💰 Does the CSG Count as Income for the SRD Means Test?

No. The Child Support Grant is paid to the child and is not counted as income when SASSA assesses the caregiver's eligibility for the SRD R370 grant. If you are a caregiver receiving CSG for your children and you yourself are unemployed, you can still apply for the SRD grant. SASSA will check your bank account for deposits in your own name - the CSG deposits may appear, but SASSA's own systems know to exclude them from the SRD income calculation.

👶 How Many Children Can One Caregiver Claim For?

There is no legal limit on the number of children a single caregiver can claim the Child Support Grant for. If you are the primary caregiver for three eligible children, you can receive three separate CSG payments - R580 per child per month, totalling R1,740 per month.

Each child is a separate application

You must submit a separate application for each child, with that child's birth certificate and documentation. However, the means test applies to the caregiver's income, not per child. If you qualify for one child, you qualify for all children in your care.

Payments are made per child - SASSA will pay R580 per month for each approved child. All payments are made on the same day (the 7th of the month or the working day before if the 7th falls on a weekend).

👨‍👩‍👧 What If the Parents Separate? Who Gets the Child Support Grant?

The Child Support Grant follows the primary caregiver - the adult who lives with and cares for the child day-to-day. If parents separate, the parent who the child lives with is the correct recipient. This is not automatically determined by who was named on the original application.

If the child moves to live with a different caregiver (after separation, death of a parent, or court order), the new caregiver must visit a SASSA office and apply to have the grant transferred to their name.
The former caregiver must also notify SASSA that the child no longer lives with them. Continuing to receive the grant when you are no longer the primary caregiver is considered fraud.
A court order granting custody does help support a transfer application, but SASSA will also accept a sworn affidavit from the new caregiver along with proof of residence showing the child at that address.

🍼 When Does the Child Support Grant Start? Can I Apply Before the Baby Is Born?

The Child Support Grant cannot be approved before a child is born - you need the birth certificate to apply. However, you should apply as soon as the birth certificate is issued, which is typically within 30 days of birth.

The grant is not backdated to the birth date. Payments begin from the month SASSA approves your application. This means every week you delay the application is income the child's household does not receive. Apply at your nearest SASSA office as soon as you have:

The child's unabridged birth certificate
Your own SA ID
Proof of your residence
Your bank account details
Road to Health booklet (recommended for children under 5, but not strictly required)

📋 Other SASSA Grants