What should we do now that my son's Child Support Grant payment has stopped because the primary care giver died?

The long answer

I think you should go to the SASSA office and explain that as his grandmother has died, you must now be the primary caregiver to your son, and you are therefore applying for the Child Support Grant which had been paid previously to his grandmother. The amount of the grant is R510 per child, per month, as of 1 October 2023.  

(You should note that if your son has already turned 18, the grant would be stopped on the last day of the month in which he turned 18.)

These are the SASSA creteria for receiving the Child Support Grant:

• You must be a South African Citizen, a Permanent Resident or a Refugee

• You and the child must both reside in South Africa

• You must be the primary caregiver of the child (you may be the parent, grandparent or anyone over 16 years old who is the main person responsible for caring for the child)

• You must NOT be receiving any payment to care for the child

• The child must be under 18 years old. 

• The child must be attending school, if they are of school-going age

• The child must NOT be receiving care in a state institution

It is a means-tested grant, so they will want proof of your income to see if you qualify for the Child Support Grant. The SASSA website says as of October 2023, the maximum amount that you can earn is R5,100 per month (R61,200 per year) if you are single, and R10,200 per month (R122,400 per year) if you are married. 

The following documents (original documents or certified copies) must be given to SASSA when you apply for the grant:

• The child’s birth certificate (if you do not have this document available, a SASSA official will assist you in filling out a sworn statement or affidavit form)

• Your South African Identity Document (if you do not have this document available, a SASSA official will assist you in filling out a sworn statement or affidavit form)

• Your spouse’s South African Identity Document, if you are married (if you do not have this document available, a SASSA official will assist you in filling out a sworn statement or affidavit form)

• Proof of all household income – any of the following:

  • Payslips if employed or 3 months' bank statements

  • UIF card if receiving UIF

  • Affidavit or a discharge certificate from your previous employer, if unemployed and not receiving UIF

  • Pension receipt if on pension

  • Proof of any child maintenance or proof that you have tried but are unable to receive maintenance from the other biological parent

  • Proof that you are the child’s primary caregiver.

SASSA will take 90 days to get back to you about whether they will pay the grant. They will backdate payment of the grant to the date you applied. These are SASSA’s contact details:

• SASSA Toll Free Call centre: 0800 60 10 11

• SASSA Head Office: 012 400 2322

• Email SASSA Head Office: Grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za

You could also ask the Black Sash for free paralegal help and advice:

• Email: help@blacksash.org.za

• Helpline: 072 66 33 73, 072 633 3739 or 063 610 1865.

Wishing you the best,
Athalie