SASSA Foster Child Grant 2026 - Amount, Eligibility & How to Apply

The SASSA Foster Child Grant helps foster parents care for children who have been placed in their care by a court. This guide covers the amount, who qualifies, the documents you need, the payment dates, and how to apply.

Foster Child Grant Amount (2026)

The Foster Child Grant pays R1,290 per month per child, confirmed in the SASSA media statement of 23 March 2026 (the April 2026 increase added R40). It is usually paid until the child turns 18, or up to 21 if the child is still in school.

Who Qualifies (Eligibility)

• The foster parent must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee
• The child must be legally placed in your care by a children's court order
• The child must be under 18 years old and live with you in South Africa
• The child must have been orphaned, abandoned, at risk, abused or neglected

A foster parent's own income is not counted, so there is no means test on the foster parent for this grant.

Required Documents

• Your 13-digit barcoded South African ID (refugee ID and status permit if a refugee)
• The child's birth certificate or identity document
• The court order confirming you are the foster parent
• The child's baptismal certificate, Road to Health card or school report, if available
• Proof of marital status

No ID or birth certificate? Complete a SASSA affidavit in front of a commissioner of oaths (not a SASSA worker), bring a sworn statement from a trusted person who knows you and the child, and proof that you have applied at Home Affairs. SASSA will take your fingerprints.

Foster Child Grant Payment Dates (2026/2027)

Children's grants are paid on the 4th in most months. If the date falls on a weekend or public holiday, payment moves to the next working day.

Official source: SASSA media statement, 23 March 2026 - verify on SASSA News (Facebook).

How to Apply (Application Process)

1. Visit your nearest SASSA office and bring the documents above, including the court order.
2. Complete the application form in front of a SASSA officer (only you or the officer may fill it in).
3. Keep the receipt SASSA gives you as proof of your application.

Reviews and When the Grant Stops

A foster child grant is usually reviewed when the court order expires (often every two years), and you may need to complete a life certificate once a year. The grant lapses if the child turns 18 (or finishes school), the child or foster parent dies, the child is placed in a state institution, the child leaves the country, the money is not collected for three consecutive months, or the child is no longer in your foster care.

Good to know: applying is completely free. Never pay anyone to "help" you apply.