One copy of the Foster Child Grant, by now raised to an amount of R1,250 monthly per child, is rendered to foster parents to enable them to care for children under the age of 18 placed in their care as per court orders. This grant remains particularly important in the lives of about 400,000 foster children and it is used principally for basic needs of these children, such as food, education, and health requirements, thus alleviating some of the cost in these difficult economic times in South Africa. Basic information covered in this article include eligibility criteria, application processes, grant payments, and some helpful hints on how to manage this grant.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet stringent requirements for the SASSA Foster Child Grant:
- Residence and Status: Be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee: both foster parent and foster child should reside in South Africa.
- Court Order – Valid court orders might be granted for actual foster care due to circumstances such as orphanhood or abandonment, abuse, and neglect.
- Age Limit: A foster child must be under 18, though he/she may be extended till 21 if in secondary schooling.
- Means Test– Income and assets of a parent or foster parents must be below the allowed limits set by SASSA, such as R86,280 per year for a single individual, etc. It may be granted all along with the Care Dependency Grant provided for a severely disabled child.
Application Proceeds
An applicant does not have to pay to apply for the Foster Child Grant.
- Visit a SASSA Office: You can locate the nearest SASSA office by calling the SASSA helpline at 0800 60 10 11 or by accessing the SASSA website at services.sassa.gov.za.
- Documents Needed: Bring your bar-coded South African ID; the child’s birth certificate; and the court order. A refugee is required to present a status permit. If some documents cannot be found, another affidavit can be accepted together with proof of application at the Department of Home Affairs.
- Complete the Form: All applications are done with the assistance of a SASSA officer in the presence of the applicant.
- Reception of Receipt: The receipt must be retained as proof of application, which is dated and stamped. The application takes up to 90 days to process after receipt. If the application is approved, payment will be backdated to the date of the court order. If rejected, an appeal can be lodged within 90 days with the Minister of Social Development.
Payment and Double Payments
Grant payments of R1,250, marking August 2025, will be paid in one instalment on 26 July 2025, through bank accounts, SASSA Black Cards, and pay points such as Shoprite. Double payments may be offered according to necessity, particularly in school terms, for large foster families.
Managing the Grant
Participating foster parents must budget the grant for items such as school fees and uniforms, as well as healthcare. Having a monthly budget, setting aside savings for emergencies, and other community resources such as food banks will allow the grant to have the most impact. SASSA offers workshops on budgeting that include financial literacy to benefit the caregiver. Check the status of your payment regularly online and protect yourself by never revealing your PIN or card details.
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