In South Africa, a top-up provision to the Child Support Grant was introduced in 2025 which consists of R565 and R280 to be paid for qualifying children, increasing monthly support and helping caregivers cope with the escalating cost of living. This assistance is aimed to reduce child poverty and to help households achieve the minimum requirements for children under 18.
Grant Overview & Purpose
The SASSA Child Support Grant will continue to be a crucial support pillar for the child support system in South Africa and for millions of families in South Africa, It is aimed to meet a portion of the basic requirements of a child for food, clothes, education, and health care. The social protection plan to increase the grants to R565 and R280 top will relieve support caregivers of the burden of inflation. This serves to reduce poverty and improve the children’s living conditions in the country.
Latest Payment Updates
Starting October 2025, according to respective payment schedules, family grants and top-ups are paid at the start of every month, meaning cash flow assistance is available at the start of each month for families with grants. Payments are available via direct deposits, SASSA payment points, and select retailers. Beneficiaries must manage their personal and banking information to avoid payment delays. Because of the frequency of payments, families are encouraged to use the payments for budget management.
Eligibility Criteria
To ensure that the grants are being given to the most deserving SASSA has enforceable and clear guidelines:
- The principal caregiver needs to be a qualified South African citizen, a permanent resident, or legally recognized as a refugee.
- The minor must be a children resident of South Africa, be younger than 18 years, and is not placed under state care.
- A means test is applicable to all the applicants – for singles the annual gross income must be below R58,800, and for couples, it must be below R105,600.
- The caregiver must not be paid for the care or state financing and must be the child’s principal carer.
Application Process
The application procedure is uncomplicated and free of charge. Caregivers are required to bring identity documents, a birth certificate for the child, proof of income, and a residence affidavit to the nearest SASSA office. Caregivers will complete the application process with SASSA personnel and subsequently enter the verification and approval phase. Payments will start on a monthly basis after registration, and routine uninterrupted payments will be made after completion of the ongoing eligibility checks for any changes.
The Impact and Commitment of the Government
The increased value of the grant is a sign of the government’s commitment to helping financially and responding to the challenges of inflation. SASSA will maintain uninterrupted payments while the increased value of payments will meet the living expenses challenges.
Table: Core Grant Data
| Grant type | Amount (2025) | Monthly payout date |
|---|---|---|
| Child Grant | R565 | Start of month |
| Top-Up (Special cases) | R280 | Start of month |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is eligible to apply for the child grant top-up?
Any South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee who is a caregiver to a child under 18 and does meet the means test.
Q2: When are the payments issued?
Every month, the payments are made at the start of the month and are bank deposited or paid at designated SASSA pay points or retail stores.
Q3: How can I check eligibility?
You can check for income, residency, and caregiver status on the SASSA website or in person with SASSA officials to verify eligibility.
