SASSA Foster Child Grant
If you are a foster parent and your financial matters are not so good, then you have the right to apply for the SASSA Foster Child Grant. Yes, this is a grant program from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to help foster parents and children. The grant is providing R1,300 per month for one child. It went up from R1,290 in October 2026.
Now you must be wondering about how to apply for the Foster Child grant and when you will get the approval, right? If your answer is yes, then you are on the right website. In this article, you are going to learn about the application process, how to collect the payment, and when to appeal for the declined application. Let’s start our guide.
SASSA Foster Child Grant Application
SASSA is helping millions of people in South Africa with different types of social grants like the Older Persons’ Grant, Disability Grant, or Child Support grant.
1. Collect and Copy Required Documents
Start by arranging all the documents needed for the application. Make photocopies of each document. After that, get them attested by an official authority.
Documents required:
- The court order that proves you are the foster parent
- Your South African ID
- Child’s birth certificate or ID
- Marriage certificate (if married)
- Death certificate (if widowed)
- Divorce order (if divorced)
- The social worker’s report on the placement
2. Visit the Nearest SASSA Office
Go to your closest SASSA office. Try to reach early, as there can be long queues. Stand in the queue and wait for your turn.
3. Ask for the Application Form
When it’s your turn, go to the help desk. Ask for the Foster Child Grant Application Form. A staff member will give it to you.
4. Fill Out the Application Form
Fill the form with a pen or ballpoint. Write neatly and clearly. If you face any problem while filling it, ask the staff for help.
5. Attach Copies of All Documents
Once the form is complete, attach the attested copies of all the required documents. Make sure you don’t miss any documents.
6. Submit the Application
Give the completed form with attached documents to the staff. They will enter your information into the system.
7. Get Your Application ID
After you submit, the staff will give you a receipt with a reference number. Keep it safe. There is no website where you can check a Foster Child Grant application. To follow up, go back to the same SASSA office with your receipt, or phone SASSA on 0800 60 10 11.
8. Wait for Approval
SASSA will review your application. If approved, you will receive monthly payments for the foster child. This process may take a few weeks.
Who Is Eligible for Foster Child Grant Payments?
1. South African ID Holders
You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee. You need to have a valid South African ID. Without an ID, you cannot apply for the grant.
2. Child’s Birth Certificate
The child must have a valid birth certificate. If the certificate is not available, you will need to provide an affidavit. The affidavit must explain why the birth certificate is missing.
3. Court Order for Foster Care
You must have a court order that proves you are the legal foster parent of the child. The court must officially place the child in your care. Without this court order, you are not eligible for the grant.
4. Child Must Be Under 18
The foster child must be younger than 18 years old. If the child is 18 or older, they do not qualify for this grant.
5. Child Must Live in South Africa
The child must live with you in South Africa. Both you and the child should be staying in the country legally.
How to Collect Payment for Foster Child Grant?
Once your payment status is approved and you have your payment date, your final step is to collect your grant payment. The process to get the cash is easy, and here is how to do it.
1) Check Your Payday
One of the important things is to check out when your payment day is. Once you have noted the grant payment date, you need to keep calm and show patience. Do not rush to collect the payment if you are using retailer stores. Try to visit the stores 2 to 3 days after the payment date and in the morning.
2) Bring Your ID With You
Take your card to the till at a shop like Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Checkers, USave, Boxer or Spar. Buy something small and ask for cash back, or ask the cashier for a cash withdrawal. You pay with your card and your PIN. Keep your ID on you anyway, but the till does not take fingerprints.
3) Draw the Money at an ATM
If your grant goes into your own bank account, use your own bank’s ATM. If you have the Postbank black card, you can use it at an ATM too — Postbank sends card holders to Standard Bank ATMs. Insert the card into the machine.
Enter your secret PIN and go to the account balance. Here you can check your balance to make sure you have received the payment. Now, go to the withdrawal section and withdraw the money.
F.A.Q
Can I apply for the Foster Child Grant online?
No, the Foster Child Grant application must be done in person at a SASSA office. Online applications are not accepted for this grant.
Can a relative, like an aunt or uncle, apply for the foster grant?
Yes, but only if they have a legal court order that places the child in their foster care. Informal care arrangements do not qualify.
Is there any age limit for the foster parent?
No, there is no fixed age limit for the foster parent. However, you must be capable of taking care of the child as per SASSA guidelines.
Will the grant continue if the child returns to the biological parents?
No, the grant will stop if the foster care court order ends or the child goes back to their biological parents.
Can I receive other grants while getting the Foster Child Grant?
Yes, you can receive other grants if you qualify. However, you cannot receive the Child Support Grant for the same child.