SASSA Care Dependency Grant Application Process 2024

Care Dependency Grant Introduction

The SASSA care dependency grant is intended to provide financial support to the parents, primary caregivers, or foster parents of the child having a mental or physical disability. Caregiver grants are like disability grants for children below 18. The primary caregiver of the child can apply for the grant if the child needs full-time care due to any type of disability.

To apply for the SASSA caregiver grant, the child must be under 18 and have temporary or permanent disability. SASSA will appoint a doctor to assess the disability of the child and make an assessment report on it. The grant will be valid until the child turns 18. However, if the disability of the child continues after 18, the applicant can apply for a disability grant.

Caregiver Grant Eligibility Criteria

Like other social grants, the caregiver grant has its eligibility criteria set by SASSA. The applicant has to check his/her eligibility before applying for the grant. The eligibility criteria for the care dependency grant are given below:

To apply for the caregiver grant, the applicant must be a South African citizen, Refugee, or Permanent Resident.
The applicant must be a parent, primary caregiver, or foster parent of the child.
The child should not be cared for in a state institution.
You and your child must reside in South Africa at the time of application.
The child must have a severe mental or physical disability and need someone for full-time care.
The child must be under 18 to qualify for the grant.
The caregivers of the child have to pass the SASSA mean test in which their income is no more than R249 600/year if single and R499 200/year if married. This condition doesn’t apply to the foster parents.
SASSA will appoint a medical officer who assesses the child’s disability before the grant approval.

Required Documents for Care Dependency Grant Application

You need the following documents for the care dependency grant application process:

The applicant needs their 13-digit barcoded ID and child’s birth certificate.
If you are a refugee then you need your refugee status and ID along with your child’s birth certificate.
If you do not have an ID or birth certificate then:
Fill out a SASSA care dependency grant affidavit form in standard SASSA format. The form must be filled in the precedence of the Oats commissioner who is not an SASSA official.
Arrange a sworn statement signed by a reputable person in the society who can verify you and the child.
SASSA will refer you to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for an ID. If you don’t get an ID your grant will be suspended.
Must bring proof that you have applied for an ID.
If the Department of Home Affairs issued you a temporary ID then must bring it.
Baptismal certificate (If available).
Road to health clinic card (If available).
If the child is going to school then must bring the school report.
A medical assessment report from the doctor appointed by SASSA.
Proof of your marital status if you are married or a divorce certificate if you were divorced.
Your salary slip and bank statement for the last three months. If you are getting any type of private pension then bring the pension slips and any other proof of income. (Not applicable for Foster Parents)
If you are not the child’s biological parent then bring any of the following:
An affidavit from a police official.
A report from the social worker.
An affidavit from the biological parent of the child.
A letter from the school principal.
If you are the biological parent of the child and the sole provider and caregiver, proof that you have tried to get the other parent to pay maintenance.
If you were unemployed, then bring your UIF card or discharge certificate from the previous employee.
If you are the foster parent of the child then bring a court order stating that they legally placed the child in your care.

How to Apply for the SASSA Caregiver Grant

Once you completed the required documents and the child’s medical assessment, visit your nearest SASSA office to apply for a care dependency grant. Carefully fill out the care dependency grant application form and attach the required documents in the presence of the SASSA officer. After completing the application form, submit it to the SASSA official and take a receipt as proof of your application.

If you are too old or sick to visit the SASSA office, you can appoint a person who can visit the SASSA office on your behalf. The person must take a letter from you or the doctor as to why you are not visiting the office.

SASSA Caregiver Grant Application Status Check

You can check your SASSA Caregiver Grant Application Status by the method given below:

Visit our home page to check SASSA status.
Enter your South African ID number in the first column.
Enter your Phone number in the second column.
Click on the “Submit” button.
Your caregiver grant status with the approved SASSA payment dates will appear on the screen.

How Much is the Care Dependency Grant Amount

From April 1st, 2024, SASSA increased the care dependency grant amount by R90/month. The applicants of the caregiver grant will receive R2180/month from April and will see an additional increase of R10/month in October 2024.

Processing Time of Child Dependency Grant

Due to the high number of caregiver grant applications every month, the processing time may vary. However, it usually takes 30 to 90 days to process the applications. Once SASSA decides on your application you will receive a message on your registered phone number.

If your grant is approved, then you can collect your payments from the date your grant is approved. Unfortunately, if your grant application is declined, then SASSA will give you reasons why your application is rejected.

What to do If Caregiver Grant Application is Rejected

If SASSA rejected your SASSA caregiver grant application due to any reason and you strongly believe that you still qualify for the grant, then you can appeal the SASSA decision to the Ministry of Social Development at the National Department of Social Development. They will review your grant application and decide on it.

If the Ministry of Social Development believes that you qualify for the grant, then they will approve your application. However, if your appeal application is also rejected then they will give you reasons why your appeal request is declined. Make sure to appeal the decision within 90 days after grant application rejection.

How to Collect Care Giver Grant Payment

Once your application is approved, you can collect the caregiver grant payment from the month your grant is approved. SASSA provides different channels to collect grant payments. If you selected the bank account method during the application process, then your social grant payment will be directly deposited in your bank account every month.

However, if you selected the cash send method, then you can collect the child care grant payment from any SASSA-partnered retail store. There are different retail stores where you can collect your grant payment like Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Boxer, Checkers, Usave, and Spar.

How to Check SASSA Caregivers Grant Balance

You can check your SASSA caregiver’s grant balance by any of the following methods:

Dial the USSD code *120*3210# or *120*69277# from your registered mobile number.
If you have an SASSA gold card then you can check the balance from any ATM.
You can check your caregiver grant balance through the SASSA WhatsApp, “082 046 8553”.
You can also call the free number “0800 601 011”.

Care Dependency Grant Suspension Reasons

SASSA has the right to review your grant from time to time. They may can suspend your grant also after reviewing your social grant. Your caregiver grant can be suspended due to the following reasons:

Your grant will be suspended if your or your child’s circumstances change.
In the outcome of a review.
If you don’t cooperate with SASSA during the review process.
If you commit fraud or misrepresent a child during the application process.
If your grant was approved by mistake.

Reasons for Lapsing of Disability Grant for Child

Your disability grant for children will expire due to any of the following reasons:

If your child’s passed away.
The care dependency grant will lapse if the child is admitted to the state institution.
If the child’s caregiver does not claim the grant for the straight 3 months.
If the child is absent from the country for a long period.
The grant will automatically expire when the child turns 18.

Responsibilities of the Caregivers

As a caregiver of the child, you have a few responsibilities to fulfill:

Make sure to update SASSA about any changes in your or your child’s circumstances.
Timely update your contact details, bank account details, and other details in case of any changes.
Always fill in the right information during the application process. In case you provide any wrong information, your grant will be suspended and you will be blacklisted by SASSA.

SASSA Contact Information

Toll-Free Number

0800 60 10 11

Head Office Number

012 400 2322

SASSA Email

[email protected]

SASSA Care Dependency Grant FAQs

From April 2024, SASSA increased the care dependency grant by R90 per month. The approved applicants will get R2180 per month from April. However, there is another increase of R10 per month in October 2024.

You can apply for the care dependency grant in your nearest SASSA office. Make sure to bring all required documents with you to apply for the grant.

If you are a caregiver of a child with a physical or medical disability that requires full-time care, you may be eligible for the care dependency grant.

The care dependency grant application form is not available online. You can visit your nearest SASSA to get the application form.

The SASSA care dependency grant is 5th of April 2024. SASSA will send payments in 2 to 3 days to the beneficiary’s accounts.

Care Dependency Grant Conclusion

SASSA care dependency grant is financial assistance for the caregivers of a child who needs full-time care. You can take care of and bear all expenses of your handicapped child with the caregiver grant. Make sure you are eligible for the grant and you have all the required documents to apply for the grant. SASSA also needs a medical assessment of your child to approve your grant.