Child Support Grant

Requirements for Eligibility

• The main provider must hold South African citizenship or permanent residency.
• Both the applicant and child are required to make their home in South Africa.
• The individual applying must serve as the main caretaker for the child/children in question.
• The child/children must have a birth date on or after 1 October 1994.
• Both the applicant and their spouse must fulfill the criteria set forth in the means test.
• It is not permissible to seek financial gain by applying for children who are not biologically yours.
• The child does not reside in a state-funded institution.
• The child whose name appears on this application cannot be claimed for a social grant by either the applicant or anyone else.
• The applicant is not employed by the state to provide for the child.
• The person responsible for caring for the child must remain their primary caregiver while receiving the grant.

Documentation for Child Support Grant

The application for a social grant requires either the original documents or certified copies to be included.

• The applicant’s identity document and that of their spouse may be replaced by an affidavit in the form prescribed by the Agency, if the parent does not possess one.
• The child’s birth certificate, or an affidavit in the prescribed form by the Agency, may be accepted if the child lacks a birth certificate.
• Either a proof of marital status or an affidavit, as prescribed by the Agency, may be accepted.

The following items will be considered valid:

• Either a sworn affidavit or one in the form prescribed by the Agency.
• A legal mandate issued by a court.
• Marriage Certificate
• In the event of death, a death certificate is needed.
• Either a sworn affidavit or one in the form prescribed by the Agency.

Note: As per the income criteria, all earnings received by the child must be disclosed when applying for the Child Support Grant.

• Documentation to confirm the relevant income is necessary. Additionally, please provide the necessary personal information for your spouse. Proof of income for dependent orphaned children will also be requested.
• In the absence of supporting documents, a sworn affidavit or an affidavit in the prescribed form by the Agency may be submitted by the applicant to confirm their lack of such documents.
• Evidence that the individual is the primary caregiver of the child can be established through any of the following means:
  • A sworn statement from law enforcement officials.
  • A document from a case worker.
  • A sworn statement from the child’s legal guardians.
  • A correspondence from the school’s principal, regarding the child’s attendance.

The Agency reserves the right to confirm the legitimacy of any evidence, and it should be noted that submitting false information could result in legal action. A Temporary Identity Document is considered a valid form of identification. The aforementioned affidavits can be obtained at the closest local office in your residential area.

How do you Apply for the Grant?

• You then approach any SASSA local office nearest to where you live.

How do you Apply?

• If you are very old/and or sick and so sick you cannot go to apply for the social grant at the office (someone will have to leave your house to do so on your behalf), a family member/friend can do the application on your behalf.
• The application form will be filled in together with a SASSA official.
• The SASSA operator should help with completing the application form for the applicant if there’s a reason they can’t.
• Once you have completed the application, and you will be issued a receipt with a stamp and a date on which the name and ID number of the SASSA official.
• Keep this receipt – it is your only evidence of application.
• You should never have to pay to apply.
• You must be informed by SASSA in writing whether you receive or not receive your application, and the reason for a negative decision.

You can ask SASSA to reconsider the decision if you are unhappy with the decision they made. A demand that SASSA reconsider its decision can also be announced from the determination of the application. If you are unhappy with the decision as reviewed you have the right to appeal to the Minister of Social Development.

Termination of the Social Grant

Major cause for the social grant to be discontinued are as follows:-

• The Child Support Grant expires on the last day of the month in which t he child-
  • for whom the Child Support Grant is received, … dies.
  • for which Child Support Grant is granted, reaches the age of 18 years.
  • is not any longer in the custody of the custodian.
  • Has been admitted to a college financed by the state, and
  • When the term for temporary disability expires,
  • Is absent from the Republic.