Quick Facts

• Current amount: R530 per month per child (December 2025)
• Increasing to R560 per month from April 2025
• Application is completely free
• Supports over 13 million children across South Africa
• For children under 18 years old

What is the Child Support Grant?

The Child Support Grant is money from the government. It helps parents and caregivers pay for children’s basic needs. The grant helps buy food, clothes, and school items.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) runs this grant. SASSA gives the money every month. The grant continues until the child turns 18 years old.

This grant supports over 13 million children in South Africa. It is the most common SASSA grant. Many families depend on this money each month.

✅ How Much Money Will You Get?

Current Amount (December 2025)

Right now, you get R530 per month for each child.

New Amount (From April 2025)

From April 2025, the amount increases to R560 per month for each child. This is an increase of R30 per child.

Examples of What You Get

Number of Children	Current Amount (Dec 2025)	New Amount (Apr 2025)
1 child	R530	R560
2 children	R1,060	R1,120
3 children	R1,590	R1,680
4 children	R2,120	R2,240

Top-Up for Vulnerable Children

Some children can get an extra R260 per month. This is called a “top-up”. You get this if:

• The child is an orphan (both parents have died)
• The child is very sick
• The family has no other income

SASSA decides if you qualify for the top-up. You don’t apply separately. They check during your application.

Who Qualifies for the Grant?

Requirements for the Caregiver (You)

• You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee
• You must live in South Africa
• You must be the main person looking after the child
• You can be the parent, grandparent, or guardian
• You cannot apply for more than 6 children who are not your own biological children

Income Limits (Means Test)

Your income must be below these limits:

Your Situation	Maximum Income Per Month	Maximum Income Per Year
Single (not married)	R5,100	R61,200
Married (combined household)	R10,200	R122,400

Requirements for the Child

• The child must be under 18 years old
• The child must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee
• The child must live in South Africa with you
• The child cannot live in a government institution (like a children’s home)
• If the child is school age, they should attend school (but this won’t stop the grant)

📋 Documents You Need

Essential Documents (Must Have)

• Your 13-digit barcoded ID document (green book or smart card)
• The child’s birth certificate (with 13-digit ID number)
• Proof of where you live (municipal account, lease agreement, or letter from chief)

Income Documents (If You Work)

• Latest payslip (if employed)
• Bank statements for the last 3 months
• Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) card (if unemployed)
• Sworn affidavit if you have no income

Additional Documents (If Applicable)

• Marriage certificate (if you are married)
• Death certificate of parent (if parent has died)
• Court order (if you are divorced or have custody)
• Proof of guardianship (if you are not the biological parent)
• Your spouse’s ID document (if married)
• Child’s clinic card or school report (helpful but not required)

What If You Don’t Have Documents?

If you don’t have some documents, you can use an affidavit. An affidavit is a sworn statement. You can get this from:

• Any police station (free)
• A Commissioner of Oaths (free)
• A SASSA office (they can help you)

How to Apply for the Grant

Step 1: Find Your Nearest SASSA Office

You must apply in person at a SASSA office. There is no online application for Child Support Grants. You can find offices in:

• Shopping centres
• Government buildings
• Civic centres

To find the nearest office, call 0800 60 10 11 (toll-free) or visit www.sassa.gov.za

Step 2: Visit the SASSA Office

Office hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Arrive early to avoid long queues. Bring all your documents and the child with you if possible.

Step 3: Complete the Application

A SASSA officer will help you. They will:

• Fill in the application form with you
• Check your documents
• Take your fingerprints
• Interview you about your situation
• Give you a receipt with a reference number

Step 4: Wait for Processing

SASSA will check your information. This takes between 30 to 90 days. You will get an SMS when the decision is made.

Step 5: Start Getting Payments

If approved, payments start within 3 months. The money is backdated to the day you applied. This means you get all the money from your application date.

If You Cannot Go to the Office

If you are sick, old, or disabled, someone can apply for you. They need:

• A letter from you (consent letter)
• A doctor’s letter explaining why you cannot come
• Their own ID document

A SASSA officer may visit your home to complete the application.

✅ Payment Methods & Dates

When You Get Paid

Child Support Grants are paid around the 4th of every month. The exact date may change slightly for weekends and public holidays.

Grant Type	Payment Day (Usually)
Older Persons Grant	2nd of the month
Disability Grant	3rd of the month
Child Support Grant	4th of the month

How You Can Get Your Money

Option 1: SASSA Postbank Black Card

This is a debit card from SASSA. You can:

• Withdraw cash at any ATM
• Buy groceries at shops
• Pay for items at tills

Important: The old Gold Card stopped working on 20 March 2025. Get your new Black Card from Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Checkers, or Boxer stores.

Option 2: Bank Account

SASSA can pay directly into your bank account. This works with any South African bank. The money goes in automatically each month.

Option 3: Cash at Pay Points

You can collect cash at designated pay points. These include:

• Post Offices
• Pick n Pay stores
• Shoprite and Checkers
• Boxer stores

How to Change Your Payment Method

Visit a SASSA office with your ID. Fill in a form to change your payment method. The change happens the next month.

🚨 SCAMS TO AVOID – READ THIS!

Criminals target SASSA grant recipients. Protect yourself by knowing these common scams.

Scam 1: Fake “Family Support Grant” of R1,682

Messages on WhatsApp and Facebook claim there is a new R1,682 “National Family Support Allowance”. THIS IS A SCAM! SASSA confirmed no such grant exists. These messages steal your personal information.

Scam 2: Fake R1,100 Child Support Grant

Some messages claim you can get R1,100 per child by clicking a link. The real Child Support Grant is R530 (soon R560). Never click these links.

Scam 3: SMS Phishing

Scammers send SMS messages pretending to be SASSA. They say:

• “Your grant is suspended – click here”
• “Update your details or lose your grant”
• “You owe SASSA money – pay now”

SASSA never sends links via SMS. If you get these messages, delete them.

Scam 4: People Offering to “Help” for a Fee

Some people say they can:

• “Fast-track” your application for R500
• “Guarantee” approval for a fee
• “Get you more money” for a percentage

Applications are always FREE. No one can speed up the process for money.

Scam 5: Fake Websites and Blogspots

Criminals create fake websites that look like SASSA. They have blogspot.com or other non-government addresses. The real SASSA website is www.sassa.gov.za (ending in .gov.za).

How to Protect Yourself

NEVER Do This	ALWAYS Do This
Share your PIN number	Keep your PIN secret
Click links in SMS or WhatsApp	Visit www.sassa.gov.za directly
Pay anyone to help you apply	Apply for free at SASSA offices
Give your banking details via phone	Only give details at SASSA offices
Trust people who promise guaranteed approval	Report suspicious people to SASSA

How to Report Scams

If you see a scam or someone tries to trick you:

• SASSA Fraud Hotline: 0800 701 701 (toll-free)
• South African Police: 10111
• Your nearest SASSA office

⚠️ What If You Have Problems?

If Your Application is Rejected

SASSA will tell you why they rejected your application. Common reasons include:

• Your income is too high
• Missing documents
• Incorrect information
• Someone else already claims for the child

You can appeal within 90 days. Visit a SASSA office with your ID and rejection letter. They will help you appeal.

If You Don’t Receive Payment

Payment problems can happen if:

• Your bank details are wrong
• Your card expired (get new Black Card)
• SASSA is doing a verification check
• You didn’t report income changes

Contact SASSA immediately: 0800 60 10 11

If You Need to Update Information

Visit a SASSA office if you need to update:

• Your address
• Your phone number
• Your bank account
• The child’s school

If You Must Pay Money Back

SASSA may ask you to repay money if:

• You didn’t report that you got a job
• Your income went above the limit
• You gave false information

If this happens, talk to SASSA. They can arrange a payment plan. You won’t have to pay everything at once.

How to Check Your Application Status

You can check your application status by:

• Calling 0800 60 10 11 with your reference number
• Visiting your nearest SASSA office
• Checking online at www.sassa.gov.za (enter your ID number)

📞 Official SASSA Contact Information

SASSA National Call Centre

• Toll-Free Number: 0800 60 10 11
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Email: GrantsEnquiries@sassa.gov.za
• Website: www.sassa.gov.za

SASSA Head Office

Address: 501 Prodinsa Building
Corner Beatrix and Pretorius Street
Pretoria
Phone: 012 400 2322

Report Fraud

• SASSA Fraud Hotline: 0800 701 701
• SAPS (Police): 10111

Other Important Numbers

• Presidential Hotline: 17737 (for serious complaints)
• National Consumer Commission: 0860 003 600
• South African Human Rights Commission: 011 877 3600

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

The Child Support Grant helps millions of South African families. If you care for a child and earn less than R5,100 per month (or R10,200 if married), you should apply.

Most Important Steps:

• Apply as soon as possible – you get money from the day you apply
• Keep all your documents safe
• Save SASSA’s number: 0800 60 10 11
• Never pay anyone to help you apply – it’s always free
• Report any income changes immediately
• Don’t click links in SMS or WhatsApp messages
• Get your new Postbank Black Card if you still have the Gold Card

Remember: From April 2025, the grant increases from R530 to R560 per child. SASSA will do this automatically – you don’t need to apply again.

Stay safe from scams! If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Only trust information from official SASSA offices and their website www.sassa.gov.za