SASSA Grants Guide 2026
The SASSA Foster Child Grant is R1,290 per child per month from April 2026. It is for registered foster parents who have a valid court order placing a child in their care. The grant is higher than the Child Support Grant because it is designed to cover the additional costs of formal foster care.
| Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly amount per child | R1,290 (from April 2026) |
| Previous amount | R1,260 |
| Increase | +R30 |
| First payment at R1,290 | 8 April 2026 |
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court order | Must have a valid foster care order from a court |
| Nationality | South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee |
| Child’s age | Under 18 (or under 21 if still in full-time school) |
| Means test | No income means test for the caregiver |
A court order is mandatory. You cannot receive the Foster Child Grant without a formal foster care placement order issued by a South African court. Informal care arrangements — even long-term ones — do not qualify. Those arrangements may qualify for the Child Support Grant instead.
| Foster Child Grant | Child Support Grant | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | R1,290/child | R580/child |
| Court order needed | Yes | No |
| Income means test | No | Yes (caregiver income) |
| Age limit | 21 if in school | 18 |
| Who qualifies | Registered foster parents | Primary caregivers (any relationship) |
| Same child | Cannot receive both | Cannot receive both |
You cannot receive both grants for the same child. If a child has a foster care court order, the Foster Child Grant (R1,290) applies — not the Child Support Grant.
Documents to bring:
| Document | Required |
|---|---|
| Your SA ID document | Yes |
| Court-issued foster care order | Yes — mandatory |
| Child’s unabridged birth certificate | Yes |
| Proof of address | Yes |
| Child’s school enrolment (if aged 18–20) | Yes, if claiming for child over 18 |
Steps:
If you do not yet have a foster care court order, contact your nearest Department of Social Development office to start the formal foster care placement process first.
Unlike the Child Support Grant (which stops at 18), the Foster Child Grant can continue until the child turns 21 — provided they are still in full-time school.
| Situation | Grant Status |
|---|---|
| Child under 18 | Grant continues |
| Child aged 18–20, in full-time school | Grant continues — notify SASSA of enrolment annually |
| Child aged 18–20, left school | Grant stops |
| Child turns 21 | Grant stops |
You must notify SASSA annually with proof of school enrolment to continue the grant for children aged 18–20.
No. A valid court-issued foster care order is mandatory. Without it, SASSA cannot process the application. If you are a primary caregiver without a court order, you may qualify for the Child Support Grant instead.
R1,290 per child per month from April 2026, increased from R1,260. This is more than double the Child Support Grant (R580) to reflect the additional responsibilities and costs of formal foster care.
No income means test applies to the Foster Child Grant caregiver. Unlike the Child Support Grant, there is no income threshold for the caregiver receiving the Foster Child Grant.
Not for the same child. If a child has a foster care court order, you receive the Foster Child Grant for that child. The Child Support Grant cannot be claimed for the same child simultaneously.
The grant continues until age 21 if the child is still in full-time school. You must submit proof of school enrolment to SASSA annually to continue the grant beyond age 18. If the child leaves school before 21, the grant stops at that point.
Written by
Busi specialises in South African social grant systems and SASSA policy. Every guide on this site is independently researched, verified against official SASSA sources, and updated whenever SASSA releases new dates, amounts, or policy changes.
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