Child Support Grant 2026 Guide

What is a social security Child Support Grant (CSG)?

SASSA introduced the Child Support Grant in 1996 to address child poverty, replacing the Limited State Maintenance Grant. The goal was to end child poverty and provide Social Security to all eligible children, no matter their race.

The CSG grant started at R100 per month. In 1998, it was expanded to support children up to 18 years old, instead of just young children.

Today, the Child Support Grant is South Africa’s largest anti-poverty program and has helped more than 13 million children by 2023.

The grant aims to help reduce child poverty and make it easier for children to get food, healthcare, and education. You do not have to be the child’s biological parent to apply. If you are a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian who is at least 16 and the main caregiver, you can apply.

What does the Child Support Grant do?

The CSG helps families cover their basic daily needs. While the amount is not large, it still makes a real difference for low-income households.

The grant is designed to help with the following:

• Buying food and groceries
• School uniforms and stationery
• Transport costs to school or clinics
• Basic clothing and hygiene items
• Healthcare-related expenses

Many families depend on the CSG as their only steady source of income. Research from the South African government shows that the grant helps reduce hunger and improves school attendance.

How much is SASSA child support grant​ by Government?

As of 27 February 2026, the Child Support Grant is R560 per eligible child each month, after small yearly increases. In 2024, the grant was R530 per child per month. Payments are made to your bank account or SASSA pay point on the 5th, and the funds are available right away to caretaker.

The grant amount changes every year to keep up with inflation. The 2026 Budget Review from the National Treasury, released on 25 February, announced that the Child Support Grant will go up by R20 to R580 from 1 April 2026.

Who qualifies for SASSA Child Support Grant?

The SASSA Child Support Grant helps caregivers in South Africa who are raising children under tough financial conditions. To get this grant, both the child and the caregiver need to meet qualify requirements.

Child Requirements:

• Must be under 18 years of age.
• Must live in South Africa.
• Must be a South African citizen born after December 31, 1993.
• The child must live with the caregiver and cannot be in a government institution.
• Must not be receiving any other social grants.

Caregiver Requirements:

• Must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or recognized refugee.
• You must be the main caregiver, such as a parent, grandparent, or a child over 16 who leads the household.
• You cannot be a foster parent who already receives a foster care grant for the child.
• You must pass the means test, which checks if your income is below the set limit.

Income (Means Test) Limit: As of 2025 Income Threshold

• Single: If you are a single caregiver, your yearly income must be less than R52,800 per year or R4,400.00 per month, which is the government’s limit.
• Married: For married caregivers, your combined income must not be more than R105,600 per year or R8,800.00 per month.

Keep in mind that SASSA sometimes changes the income limits. Check with your nearest office or the official website for the latest information.

Non-biological children:

You can apply for up to six non-biological or legally adopted children.

What documents required when you apply for SASSA child grant?

To apply for CAG online or at a SASSA office, please prepare the following:

• Your 13-digit green barcoded ID.
• Child’s birth certificate or clinic card (ID if over 16).
• Proof of residence (landlord’s affidavit or utility bill).
• Provide a payslip or bank statement as proof of income. If you are unemployed, submit an affidavit instead.
• Ensure your banking details are available for deposit purposes.
• If you don’t have all the documents, you can use an affidavit to cover what’s missing.

How to apply online or in-person for child support grant?

You can apply for the Child Support Grant online at the official SASSA Services Portal any time, or visit a SASSA office between 7:30 AM and 4 PM, Monday to Friday.

What to bring when you apply for SASSA child grant?

Bring original documents and certified copies where required.

Required Documents:

• Your South African ID document
• Child’s birth certificate
• Proof of income (or affidavit if unemployed)
• Proof of residence
• Court order (if applicable)
• Banking details (if choosing bank payment)

If documents are incomplete, your application may be delayed.

What to do if documents are missing?

If you are missing any documents, write an affidavit that explains why. Someone who knows the child well, like a police station commissioner or counsellor, must sign it. The affidavit should confirm details such as the child’s identity or your income needs.

Submit the affidavit together with any documents you have. SASSA will review them to make sure all requirements are met for families who need help.

Follow these steps if you are missing documents:

• Affidavit: Fill out a standard SASSA affidavit form in front of the Commissioner of Oaths, who cannot be a SASSA official. Explain which identity documents or birth certificate are missing.
• Secondary evidence: Provide other documents that support your application, like a clinic Road to Health card, school report, or baptism certificate.
• Proof of application: If the child does not have a birth certificate, show proof that you have applied for one at the Department of Home Affairs.
• Maintenance proof: If you are a single parent, bring proof that you have tried to get maintenance from the other parent.
• Unemployment/Income: If you do not have bank statements, submit an affidavit that explains your income and employment status.

How to write an affidavit for SASSA child support grant?

A SASSA child support grant affidavit shows that you are the main person caring for the child and provides the child’s details if you do not have official documents like an ID or birth certificate. You can use the standard SASSA form or ask a Commissioner of Oaths at a police station to help you write one. The affidavit should include your name, address, your relationship to the child, and a statement that you are not paid to look after them.

Steps to Make the Affidavit

• Get the standard SASSA Affidavit for Child Support Grant by downloading it. This form includes all the legal details you need.
• Write your full name, ID number, and address, then add the child’s full name and date of birth.
• State under oath that you are the main person caring for the child, such as a parent or guardian, and that the child lives with you.
• Clearly say that you do not get paid to care for the child.
• Confirm that the child does not live in a government-funded institution.
• Sign the affidavit in front of a Commissioner of Oaths. You can do this at a police station, magistrate’s court, or bank.
• Add a sworn statement from someone respected in your community, such as a school principal, social worker, or ward councillor, who can confirm your situation.

Important Details to Add in Affidavit:

• Explain why you need to use an affidavit instead of a birth certificate, for example, if the documents are lost, stolen, or not yet given to you.
• Say whether you are single, married, divorced, or widowed.
• Add a statement that you know giving false information is a crime.

Child Support Grant Top-Up — How Much Is It?

From April 1, 2025, the CSG TopUp in South Africa was increased by R280, increasing the base grant from R560 to a total of R840 per child per month.

The SASSA Child Support Grant top-up gives important help to relatives who care for two orphaned children. It helps pay for basics like food and school uniforms. For many grandparents, it is a steady source of support when parents pass away too soon.

What caused the R20 increase to R580 in April 2026?

The 3.6% increase is about 3.4% higher than recent inflation, helping over 13 million caregivers pay for rising food and school costs while salaries remain unchanged.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced a R20 increase to the SASSA child support grant during the National Budget Speech on February 25, 2026. This is part of the yearly adjustment to help with economic pressures.

The government bases this increase on CPI forecasts and fiscal sustainability, aiming to give families strong support when prices rise the most.

What makes the SASSA CSG grant different from the SRD?

Many people confuse the Social Relief of Distress Grant with the CSG, but they serve different purposes and target different groups.

Both grants are managed by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), but they have different rules for who can get them and what they aim to do.