Around 27.8 million South Africans rely on social grants provided by the government. This is approximately 46% of the country's population.
Social grants in South Africa are distributed by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). SASSA are also responsible for ensuring that all grant recipients meet the qualifying criteria of the grants they distribute.
SASSA distributes the following grants; Child Support Grant Care, Dependency Grant, Disability Grant, Foster Child Grant, Grant-In-Aid, Older Persons Grant, Social Relief of Distress and the War Veterans Grant.
To qualify for the Child Support grant, primary caregivers must...
- Be South African Citizens, permanent resident or refugee
- Must live in South Africa. The child must also live in South Africa
- Must be the primary caregiver of the child who they grant is being paid for
- The primary caregiver and their spouse must comply with the means test
- Cannot apply for more than 6 biological children
- Child must not be maintained by a state institution
- Provide the child's school attendance certificate
SASSA says that the main reason for the child support grant, apart from maintaining the health of the child, is also to ensure the child attends and completes their schooling. SASSA may choose to cancel a child support grant should the child's school attendance records not be provided to them.
SASSA grant recipients will also automatically qualify for funding provided by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. This funding helps ensure deserving students can pay for education at public universities and TVET colleges in South Africa.
