Check SASSA Child Grant Status Online in 2024

Today, I want to talk to you about something really important – the SASSA Child Support Grant (CSG) in South Africa. This grant is like a helping hand for families who are working hard to take care of children under 18.

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or the head of your household and over 16 years old, the CSG is there to support you in providing for these children. 

Starting from October 1, 2023, each eligible child under your care will get a monthly grant of R510. And guess what? From April 1, 2024, this amount will go up by R10 per child. Every little bit helps, right?

Eligibility Criteria for SASSA Child Grant

Let’s talk about how you can qualify for the SASSA Child Support Grant. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, I promise!

First off, you need to be a South African citizen, recognized refugee, or have permanent residency. Basically, you need to call South Africa home.

Next, you should be living in South Africa with the child you’re caring for. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or anyone over 16 years old taking care of the child, you’re eligible.

Speaking of the child, they should be under 18 years old. That’s the magic number for this grant.

Now, here’s something important: the child shouldn’t be living in a state institution. They should be with you, getting the care they need.

When it comes to paperwork, having a 13-digit bar-coded ID or smart ID card is ideal. But hey, if you don’t have those, don’t worry. You can still apply.

If you’re married, you and your spouse need to meet the means test requirements. It’s just a way for SASSA to make sure the grant goes to those who need it most.

Oh, and one more thing – you can’t apply for more than six non-biological children.

If you’re applying for the grant on your own, as a single person, your yearly income should be less than R60,000. That’s as of April 1, 2023.

Now, if you’re married and applying together, your combined yearly income needs to be under R120,000.

Required Documents for Applying SASSA Child Grant

First off, you’ll need some important documents:

• Birth Certificate: Make sure you have the child’s original birth certificate with their ID number. And don’t forget your own 13-digit bar-coded ID.
• Alternate Documentation: If you or the child don’t have an ID or birth certificate, there’s a form called an affidavit. You’ll need to fill this out in front of an Oaths Commissioner, who is independent of SASSA.
• Validation by a Trusted Community Member: If standard IDs are unavailable, you can get a declaration verified by a respected person in your community, like a counselor or religious leader.
• Home Affairs Documentation: If you’ve applied for an ID or birth certificate but haven’t received it yet, bring proof of this application from the Department of Home Affairs.
• Temporary Identity Document: If you have a temporary identity document issued by Home Affairs, bring it along.
• Additional Identity Proofs: If available, bring supplementary documents like a baptismal certificate, school certificate, or the child’s Road to Health Clinic card.
• Marital and Custody Proofs: Depending on your situation, you might need to provide a marriage certificate, divorce custody court order, or, in cases of deceased or missing parents, death certificates or missing person reports.
• Proof of Primary Caretaker Status: For non-biological parents, you’ll need to show your role as the primary caretaker. This could include a sworn statement, a letter from the child’s school, or written permission from the biological parent.
• Income Verification: To show your income sources, provide documents like payslips, your UIF card, an employment leaving certificate, or pension receipts.
• Proof of Child’s Financial Support: Include any evidence of financial support you’ve received or tried to get for the child.

Applying Procedure for SASSA Child Grant

Let’s talk about applying for the grant. The best part? It won’t cost you a thing! That’s right, applying for the grant is completely free. Good news, especially if you’re managing a tight budget.

Now, let’s get into how you can apply. If you like face-to-face chats, you can visit your nearest SASSA office. They’re there to help you every step of the way. But hey, if you’re more of a tech-savvy person, you can apply online. It’s all about what works best for you!

But what if you can’t apply yourself? No worries at all! You can ask a trusted family member or friend to help out. They just need a letter from you, explaining why you can’t apply, along with a note from your doctor. It’s all about making sure everyone who needs the grant can get it.

And hey, if you’re feeling a bit lost during the application, don’t sweat it. The helpful staff at SASSA offices are there to lend a hand. They can assist you with filling out the forms and guide you through any tricky bits.

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll have a chat with a SASSA officer. This is where they’ll go through your application to check if you’re eligible for the grant. It’s an important step in the process.

After all this, whether you applied yourself or someone did it for you, you’ll get a receipt with a date stamp. Hold onto this receipt tight! It’s your proof that you’ve applied, and it has your application ID on it. Keep it safe just in case you need it later.

Once your application gets the thumbs-up, the payments kick in from the date you first applied. Now, SASSA does have a schedule for these payments, but the exact dates can vary. It’s always good to keep an eye out for updates.

But hey, what if your application doesn’t get the green light? No need to fret just yet! You’ve got options. First up, you can ask SASSA to take another look at your application. 

You’ve got the right to appeal to the Ministry of Social Development. But remember, you’ve got to do this within 90 days of the rejection. The Ministry will give your case a thorough review and can either give you the green light or explain why they’re sticking with SASSA’s decision.

Frequently Asked Questions