SSASSA Status Check
Home/Grants/Child Support Grant
R560 per child

Child Support Grant

The Child Support Grant (CSG) is the largest South African cash transfer — reaching over 13 million children. It is paid to the primary caregiver of a child under 18 who lives in South Africa.

Amount and top-ups

The CSG pays R560 per child per month. If the child was born under maternal HIV or other high-risk conditions and meets the health-department criteria, a caregiver may qualify for the extra Child Support Grant Top-Up of an additional R290 per month (bringing the total to R850).

Who qualifies as caregiver

The primary caregiver — not necessarily the biological parent — is the person who takes daily responsibility for the child's needs. This can include:

  • A biological parent.
  • A grandparent or older sibling who cares for the child.
  • An unrelated adult who cares for the child with the family's consent.

The caregiver must be:

  • 16 years or older.
  • A South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee registered with Home Affairs.
  • Living in South Africa with the child.
  • Not paid to look after the child (professional foster parents claim the foster child grant instead).

Means test

Caregiver statusIncome limit / yearIncome limit / month
SingleR60 000R5 000
Married (combined)R120 000R10 000

Income above these thresholds excludes you from the CSG.

Documents required

  • Caregiver's 13-digit ID.
  • Child's birth certificate with the caregiver's details or a valid Form 6 affidavit from a police station.
  • Proof of income or unemployment (bank statements, UIF).
  • Proof of marital status if applicable.
  • Proof that you are the primary caregiver — for example a letter from the school principal or ward councillor.
  • Proof that you have tried to obtain financial support from the parents (only if the parents are absent).

How to apply

  1. Go to your nearest SASSA office. Applications cannot yet be submitted fully online.
  2. Complete the CSG form with an officer and provide biometrics.
  3. Take the signed receipt home and keep it safe.
  4. Wait up to 21 working days for the outcome. Payments are backdated to application day if approved.

When the grant stops

  • The child turns 18 (the grant lapses at the end of the birth month).
  • The child dies or emigrates.
  • The child is admitted to a state-funded institution for more than 6 months.
  • The caregiver's income exceeds the means test at review.
  • You fail to collect payments for 3 consecutive months.

Care changes matter. If the child moves to live with a different caregiver, the new caregiver must apply — the grant cannot simply be redirected. There must not be a gap in the child's cash support, so apply immediately.