SASSA Child Support Grant- Eligibility Criteria & Application Guide

SASSA child support grant provides financial assistance to caregivers to support their children of the age of 18 or less. This grant offers a monthly payment to help South African families provide the necessities, education, etc to their children. This article will explain the eligibility criteria, procedure, documents, timing, etc.

Eligibility Criteria to Qualify for the Child Support Grant

To qualify for the Child grant, you must have to meet the following criteria set by the SASSA for this grant:

You must be a citizen of South Africa, a refugee or a permanent resident. ( any of them)
You have to be the caregiver of the child. You can be a biological parent, foster parent or grandparent of a child.
Your child and you are currently living in South Africa.
The age of the child must be 18 years or less.
Your child is not admitted to a state institution.
Your child is living with you at the same place, and the government does not pay you to take care of the child.
You have to qualify for the means test that is:
Your income must not be greater than R4400 monthly and R52800 annually only if you are single.
If you are applying for the SASSA child support grant as a married couple, your monthly income and that of your spouse must be less than R8800 and R105 600 annually.

Note: If you are not a biological parent of your children, you can get the grant for only six children. You cannot apply for more than 6 children.

Which Documents are Required when Applying for the Child Support Grant?

When you are applying for the child support grant, then make sure you have the following documents:

You must have a 13-digit unique bar-coded ID and your child’s birth certificate. If you do not have an Identity Card and a birth certificate, then you must have these documents:
An affidavit was filled out before the Oaths commissioner. However, the Othas commissioner must not be associated with SASSA.
A respectable person, such as a principal, leader, social worker, etc., sign a sworn statement verifying your name and age.
Then, you will be directed to Home Affairs to apply for an ID card, and they will collect your fingerprints. You must have the short-term ID issued by Home Affairs as evidence that you have applied for the ID.
The baptismal certificate of your child.
Your child’s school report. (if you have)
Road to health clinic card. (if applicable)

You must have proof of income. It would be best if you had any of these documents:
If you are receiving a pension, then show the pension slip.
If you are currently working, then show the salary slip.
In case of unemployment, you must show your UIF membership or the job leaving certificate for your last job.

If you receive a social grant for financial support for your child, you must show evidence of it.
To show your marital certificate, you have to show any of the following documents:
Show the marriage certificate if you have a spouse.
In case of separation, show the divorce decree.
Moreover, Show the death certificate if your spouse is no more.
If you are single, you must have an affidavit.

If you are a caretaker legally appointed by the child court, then you show any of these documents:
Report made by a Social Worker.
Letter from the principal of your child’s school.
And an affidavit from the police station.

Application Procedure to Apply for the SASSA Child Support Grant

Visit the nearest SASSA office to fill out the application form before the SASSA official. After filling out the form, attach the required documents that we have discussed above with the application form for the SASSA Child Support Grant. In return, a SASSA official will provide a receipt showing you have applied for the child support grant with his name on it. Keep the receipt safe for future use as evidence that you have applied for the grant.

Processing Time for the Child Support Grant

SASSA will take up to 3 months to process your child support grant. However, the time varies by the number of applications from the date you have submitted your application. If you are selected for the child support grant, you will receive the payment from the date you applied.

What to do When You are Not Selected?

If you are not selected for the child support grant, the SASSA will send you a letter detailing why you are not eligible. However, you can appeal your grant to the “Ministry of Social Development “at the “Department of Social Development “within 90 days.

They will review your application, and this time, if you are selected, you will receive the payment from the day you applied. If you are not accepted for the grant, they will again send a written letter explaining why you are not selected for the grant.

What Amount Will You Get From the Child Support Grant?

You will get a total of R530 to support your child.

Payment Method For the SASSA Child Support Grant

You can receive the Payment for the Child Support Grant through the following methods:

From the official SASSA Partners, for example, Usave, Boxer, Pick n Pay, etc.
You can receive the payment in your Bank account.
Another method of receiving the payment is through the PostBank account.
You can receive monthly payments from institutes like Old age homes, etc.

What are the Reasons for the Suspension of Your Grant?

There are the following reasons for the suspension of your grant:

If your financial circumstances change.
You did not cooperate with the SASSA team during the review.
It could be a consequence of a review.
If there was an error in the selection of your application.
You provided the fake information in the application form.

Restoration of Your SASSA Child Support Grant

You can appeal if you think there is some error in suspending your grant. To restore your grant, you must appeal to the “Minister of Social Development “at the Department of Social Development within 90 days.

Reasons for the Lapsing of your Child Support Grant

There could be several reasons for cancelling your SASSA child support grant. Some of these are:

Unfortunate event of the death of your child.
Now, the age of your child is more than 18 years.
Your child is admitted to the government institution for full-time care.
You did not claim for the payment straight 3 months.
If you and your child are out of the country for over 90 days.

Conclusion

SASSA child support grant is a great initiative by the government to provide a better life for children. If you meet the eligibility criteria ( that we have discussed above ), then you must apply for the grant. And get a helping hand from the government to provide the necessities of education to your child.