SASSA Foster Child Grant [2024]

SASSA provides foster parents with a foster child grant also known as a foster care grant to help them take care of their foster children. Foster children are those who have been placed in your care by a court due to orphanages, desolations, tortures, neglects, or emergencies. Food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and education will be provided by foster parents for their foster children.

Children in foster care receive grants until they turn 18. A grant amount will be paid until the child turns 21 if they are still in secondary or high school. Once a child leaves school or earns income beyond the means test criteria, the grant payments will stop. There will be a grant payment of R1,130 per child per month beginning in October 2023, and it will change every 6 months thereafter till 2024.

SASSA Foster Child Grant: Eligibility Criteria

Make sure you meet the following criteria before applying for the foster child grant:

The grant is only available to South African citizens, refugees, and permanent residents.
Your foster child and you should both live in South Africa.
The child must remain in your care as long as you are the foster parent.
The foster child must be placed under your care by a court order if the child is Orphaned, Abused, Abandoned, Neglected, or At Risk.
Foster children must be under 18 years of age.
The foster child must meet the requirements of the means test.

Documents Requirement to Apply for Foster Child Grant

The following documents originals or certified copies must be submitted with your foster child grant application to SASSA:

A foster child’s birth certificate and If you do not have a birth certificate, you must sign an affidavit.
You must submit your refugee ID if you are a refugee.
Your state ID is required if you are a permanent resident.
Your spouse’s identity documents should be included as well.
Proof of your marital status.
Provide the death certificate of your spouse if he or she has passed away.
You must sign an affidavit under oath.

How to Apply for the SASSA Foster Child Grant?

In your nearest SASSA branch, fill out the application form, or apply online through the SASSA services website in accordance with the instructions.

SASSA Office: Visit your local SASSA office.
Application form: For an application form, ask for the Foster Child Grant form at the counter.
Form Completion: Make sure the form is filled out accurately and neatly.
Documents Required: Please attach all necessary documents with your application.
Application Submission: Your application will be reviewed after submission and then you have to wait for it to be processed.
Info: Make sure SASSA can reach you if needed by keeping your contact information up-to-date.
Application confirmation: You will receive a decision regarding your grant application once it has been reviewed.

What is the Processing Time for the SASSA Foster Child Grant?

Applications for the Foster Child Grant are usually processed within 3 months. Once your application is approved, you will start receiving payments. All payments will be made to you once your grant application is processed and approved. The SASSA will send you a letter explaining why your application was rejected.

SASSA Foster Child Grant Payment Process

If your Foster Child grant application is approved, you will begin receiving payments from the date you applied. As SASSA does not have any fixed dates, they release the payment schedule every month. So, check out the latest SASSA Payment dates.

Payments will be made to you by SASSA in one of three ways (you must choose one):

Your bank account or Postbank account will be credited directly. You may be charged a service fee by the banks.
There are SASSA-partnered retail outlets such as Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Boxer, Checkers, Usave, and Spar where you can withdraw your grant payment in cash.
A specific institution (e.g. an old-age home, a disability center, or a non-profit organization).

Grant payments through a bank account

The following documents must be submitted if you wish to receive your grant payments through a bank account: SASSA Grant Consent Form.

ID cards, driving licenses, or birth certificates can serve as proof of identity.
Your bank account number should be in your name.
Bank statement showing your name and account number for three months.

At any time, you can update your bank account details or payment method by filling out a form at the welfare office. Once the verification is complete, the payments will be received through the new payment method from the following month. You can nominate someone to collect payments on your behalf if you are too old to collect grants yourself.

Means Test For The SASSA Foster Care Grant?

To ensure that only deserving children receive the grant, the SASSA Means test is used to determine the income of foster children. Foster parents’ income will not be considered. Grants are only available to foster parents whose foster children meet certain financial criteria and live in poverty.

Foster children must have incomes that are less than twice the grant amount to qualify. The means test evaluates financial eligibility differently depending on the type of grant.

SASSA Contact

In case of additional questions, please feel free to contact SASSA

Contact the SASSA Toll-Free Call Centre at: 0800 60 10 11
For more information, please contact SASSA’s Head Office: 012 400 2322
Please send your queries to SASSA Email Address: [email protected]