Here’s a brief intro to the SASSA child grant and how to apply for it in 2025 January. Currently, three different children’s government grants exist. However, not all will be perfectly fit for your family or child. Also, only one parent can apply for a child’s childcare grant. Let’s have an in-depth look into each child grant.
However, the government has urged mothers to register their newborns early to benefit from the SASSA Child Grant. The suspended SASSA CEO said that 14 million parents will spend the SASSA Child Grant in January 2025. The R530 Child Grant is by far the most widely and highest regarded of these social assistance grants in South Africa, even better than the R370 for the Emergency Social Assistance (SRD).
But at this time last year of early 2024, more than 150,000 Child Support profiles suspended suddenly and without warning. Most argued it was an IT mess up after a major hack attack. However, later, the agency could say it happened because of poor profile security due to fraud.
Call for Child Applications in 2025
Nevertheless, it’s currently 2025; this sounds like the SASSA child grant does not repeat any term. And the agency wants young mothers to know that if they keep that newborn child on the welfare system from birth till his or her eighteenth birthday, then the child gets about R135,480. This figure is based on a conservatively estimated annual increase in grants of about 5%.
However, the Department of Social Development feels it can do more for young parents with newborns. That is why officials urged all mothers with newborns in 2024 to apply for the SASSA Child Grant immediately after the birth.
Are there three grants for children?
There are three SASSA Child Grants in January 2025, paying next week on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. In addition to Child Grant, there are also grants for foster children and for childcare. However, to be eligible you must pass the following means test (not to be confused with other SASSA grants that also test the assets):
If married, be less than R8,800 a month (R105,600 per year) If single, earn less than R4,400 a month (R52,800 per year).
And, of course, they must also be under 18 years old, and parents cannot apply for more than one grant at the same time. It can take up to three months for processing an application, although refunds may go back to the date of application if successful.
Care Dependent and Child Fare
The additional requirements for SASSA Child Grant January 2025 for the mentally or physically disabled children or for foster children require the submission of special approval. The declaration of disability must be signed by a state appointed doctor. Likewise, a legal foster citizen appointed to the court under South African Children Act can receive the Foster Child Allowance. The grant pays R2 190 (care dependent) or R1 190 (foster child).
The other Child Allowance payment dates are as follows before the next extension and increase in April 2025.
- Thursday 6 February 2025
- Wednesday 5 March 2025
Also Read: SRD R370 Grant Delays: Understanding Why January 2025 Payments Are Missing
Also Read: R510 Child Support Grant 2025: Payment Schedule And Eligibility Explained