The SASSA Child Support Grant pays R580 per child per month in 2026. This increased from R560 in April 2026, confirmed in the February 2026 National Budget Speech by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
If you care for more than one qualifying child, you receive R580 for each — three children means R1,740 per month. And if any of those children are orphans in your care, a top-up payment applies on top.
Current Child Support Grant Amount: 2026/2027
| Payment Type | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Child Support Grant (per child) | R580 |
| CSG Top-Up — orphan caregiver (per orphan child) | R290 extra |
| Total per orphan child | R870 |
Examples of what you receive monthly:
| Situation | Monthly Total |
|---|---|
| 1 child (biological/adopted) | R580 |
| 2 children | R1,160 |
| 3 children | R1,740 |
| 1 orphan child (top-up applies) | R870 |
| 2 children, 1 orphan | R1,450 |
| 3 children, all orphans | R2,610 |
Use our Child Support Grant eligibility and payment calculator to get your exact estimated monthly amount based on your specific situation.
The Child Support Grant Top-Up — Who Qualifies?
The top-up of R290 per child is available to caregivers who are looking after an orphaned child (both parents deceased) or a child whose parents have abandoned them, and who are not the biological or adoptive parent.
You do not need a court order for the top-up — unlike the Foster Child Grant which requires a court placement. You need:
- Death certificates for both parents (if both are deceased), or
- An affidavit from a social worker confirming the child has been abandoned
If you are a grandparent caring for a grandchild whose parents have both passed away, you qualify for R870 per month per such child — the R580 base grant plus the R290 top-up.
Note on the Foster Child Grant: If you have a court order placing a child in your care, the Foster Child Grant pays more — R1,290 per month. It requires a court order but is worth pursuing if the child has been placed formally. See our complete Child Support Grant guide for the comparison table between grant types.
The Lifetime Value of the Child Support Grant
The Child Support Grant runs from birth until the child's 18th birthday. Applied for at birth and received consistently, the total value over 18 years at current rates is substantial.
Lifetime value calculation at current 2026 rate:
R580 × 12 months × 18 years = R125,280 per child
In practice, the amount increases slightly each year with the annual budget — which means the actual lifetime total is higher than this figure. Over the past several years, the annual increase has typically been between R10 and R30 per child.
If you apply late, you lose money permanently. Unlike some grants, the Child Support Grant is not backdated to birth — it is only backdated to the date you apply. A caregiver who applies when a child is 3 years old instead of at birth loses approximately:
R580 × 12 months × 3 years = R20,880 per child
This is the single strongest reason to apply as early as possible — ideally within the first few months of birth.
How the Amount Has Changed Over the Years
| Financial Year | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| 2022/2023 | R460 |
| 2023/2024 | R500 |
| 2024/2025 | R530 |
| 2025/2026 | R560 |
| 2026/2027 | R580 |
The 2026 increase of R20 (3.6%) was slightly above the Consumer Price Index inflation rate of approximately 3.5% at the time of the budget, meaning beneficiaries received a marginal real-terms increase.
Civil society organisations including Black Sash have consistently called for the Child Support Grant to be increased to at least the food poverty line — currently R796 per person per month — noting that R580 covers less than three-quarters of the minimum needed to feed a child adequately.
When Is the Payment Made?
The Child Support Grant is paid on a fixed monthly schedule, always in the first week of the month. The standard date is the 4th of each month, adjusted for weekends and public holidays.
For the complete confirmed schedule from April 2026 to March 2027, see our Child Support Grant payment dates page.
Does the Child Support Grant Count as Income?
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood points about the grant.
For the SRD means test: The Child Support Grant does not count as income when SASSA assesses your SRD R370 eligibility. You can receive both grants simultaneously if you meet each grant's individual criteria. See our SRD application guide for the SRD means test threshold.
For SARS / tax purposes: The Child Support Grant is not taxable. It does not need to be declared as income in your tax return.
For the Child Support Grant means test itself: Receiving another grant (like an Old Age Pension or Disability Grant) does not disqualify you from receiving the Child Support Grant for a child in your care. However, the value of any other grants you receive may be considered in your household income for the CSG means test. See the eligibility and means test section for the full income thresholds.
For court-ordered maintenance: Voluntary maintenance payments deposited into your account may be counted as income in the CSG means test. Court-ordered maintenance is generally not counted. If you receive maintenance, bring documentation to your SASSA application appointment to clarify.
What Happens to the Amount When a Child Turns 18?
The Child Support Grant stops automatically at the end of the month in which the child turns 18. SASSA does not always send a warning in advance — it is your responsibility to know your child's birthday.
Unlike the Foster Child Grant (which can continue in some cases if the child is still in school), there is no extension of the Child Support Grant past age 18, regardless of whether the child is still in education.
If you care for multiple children, your payment reduces by R580 each time one of them turns 18. See our full guide on when the Child Support Grant stops for what to expect and how to plan for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the amount the same for all children regardless of age? Yes. R580 per month per child, from birth to age 18. There is no age-based variation in the amount.
Can the amount be increased if I have more expenses? No. The amount is fixed by the national budget and is the same for all qualifying caregivers. There is no discretionary increase available.
I heard the grant is increasing to R700 — is this true? No. This claim has circulated on social media and WhatsApp groups and is false. The confirmed amount for the entire 2026/2027 financial year is R580. No increase has been announced beyond April 2026. See our post debunking the R700 SRD grant myth — similar false information circulates about the Child Support Grant amount.
My child lives with me but their birth certificate shows a different address — do I still get R580? The grant amount is not affected by address discrepancies. However, SASSA may require you to prove the child lives with you as part of the primary caregiver assessment. Bring a school letter or an affidavit confirming the child's residence.
If my application is approved in the middle of the month, is my first payment pro-rated? No. The Child Support Grant is paid as a full monthly amount. Your first payment will be for the full R580 (or applicable total) and will be backdated to the date you applied, not the date of approval.
Contact SASSA
- SASSA Call Centre: 0800 60 10 11 (toll-free, Monday to Friday 08:00–16:00)
- WhatsApp: 082 046 8553
- Email: [email protected]
- Official SASSA site: sassa.gov.za