Care Dependency Grant

The Care Dependency Grant is a monthly payment from SASSA to the parent or primary caregiver of a child with a severe disability who requires permanent, full-time care. This page explains general eligibility, the documents SASSA typically asks for, how to apply, and how payments and reviews work, drawing on official SASSA guidance. This is general information only — always confirm your personal eligibility with SASSA.

This guide covers who generally qualifies for the Care Dependency Grant, what documents to prepare, what the medical assessment involves, what happens after you apply, and what to do if your application is declined or your circumstances change later. Knowing this before your SASSA appointment can help you avoid an unnecessary return trip.

Quick Facts

Paid monthly by SASSA to the parent or primary caregiver of a qualifying child
For a child under 18 who has been medically assessed as having a severe, permanent disability requiring full-time care
Requires a medical or functional assessment report confirming the child’s condition
Subject to a means test on the caregiver and spouse’s income (this generally does not apply to foster parents)
Current amount: R2,400 per month (verify on official SASSA sources, as amounts can change)

Who May Qualify

According to SASSA’s published requirements, this grant is generally aimed at a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee who is the parent or primary caregiver of a child under 18 who lives with them in South Africa. A doctor or panel recognised by SASSA must confirm, through a medical or functional assessment report, that the child has a severe, permanent disability requiring full-time care from another person.

The caregiver and their spouse must also meet SASSA’s means test on income, except where the caregiver is a foster parent, in which case the foster parent’s own income is generally not taken into account. The child must not be permanently cared for in a state institution while the grant is paid. Exact income thresholds are set by SASSA and are not listed here to avoid outdated figures — confirm the current means-test amounts with SASSA before applying.

Documents You Will Generally Need

Before visiting a SASSA office, it helps to gather the following where they apply to your situation:

Your 13-digit barcoded South African ID document.
The child’s birth certificate.
A medical or functional assessment report confirming the child’s severe disability and care needs, completed by a doctor recognised by SASSA.
Proof of your income, or a sworn statement if you have no income.
Proof of your marital status, if applicable.
Proof of your relationship to the child, if you are not the biological parent.

If you do not have your own ID or the child’s birth certificate, SASSA can generally accept a sworn affidavit completed in front of a Commissioner of Oaths together with proof that you have already applied for the missing document at the Department of Home Affairs.

How to Apply for the Care Dependency Grant

Get a medical or functional assessment report for the child completed by a doctor recognised by SASSA. This report is central to your application, so try to schedule your SASSA visit soon after the assessment while it is still current.
Gather the child’s birth certificate, your ID document and the other supporting documents listed above. Having certified copies ready alongside the originals can save you a repeat visit.
Apply in person at the SASSA office closest to where you live. Only you as the applicant, or a SASSA official, may complete the application form on your behalf.
Keep the receipt SASSA gives you as proof of your application date. If your grant is later approved, payment is generally backdated to the date you applied, so this receipt matters.
Wait for SASSA to review the medical report, your documents and the means-test information. Processing can take time even when your documents are complete, so a decision is not always immediate.

Payment Information

Once approved, the Care Dependency Grant is currently paid at R2,400 a month, following SASSA’s published monthly payment schedule. SASSA can pay the grant into a bank or Postbank account, in cash at a designated pay point, or through an approved institution acting as an administrator for the caregiver.

View Payment Dates

What Happens If Your Application Is Declined

If SASSA declines your application, you should be told in writing why it was unsuccessful. If you believe the decision was incorrect, you can generally lodge an appeal with the Minister of Social Development through the national Department of Social Development office, typically within 90 days of receiving the outcome. This route is separate from the online appeal process used for declined SRD R370 applications.

Reviews and When the Grant Lapses

SASSA can review the grant based on your circumstances or the child’s medical assessment, and will generally notify you in advance of a review appointment. If you receive the grant through a bank account, an institution or a procurator, you may also need to complete a life certificate periodically.

The grant can be suspended if your circumstances change, if you do not cooperate with a review, or if SASSA finds an error in how it was approved. It generally lapses if the child passes away, turns 18, is admitted permanently to a state institution, is no longer in your care, or the grant is not claimed for three consecutive months. Confirm the current review cycle for your case with SASSA.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Letting the medical or functional assessment report become outdated before your SASSA appointment, since these reports are usually only valid for a limited time.
Leaving out proof of income or a sworn statement of no income, which can stall the means-test assessment.
Assuming a foster parent must also pass the income means test, when SASSA generally does not apply this requirement to foster parents.
Not telling SASSA when your circumstances or the child’s care arrangements change, which can put an approved grant at risk of suspension later.

Tips for a Smoother Application

Ask the assessing doctor for your own copy of the medical or functional assessment report, since you may need it again at a future review. Keep a note of your application reference number and ask the SASSA official when the next review is likely to be due, so you are not caught off guard later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same as the Disability Grant?

No. The Disability Grant is paid directly to an adult with a qualifying disability, while the Care Dependency Grant is paid to the caregiver of a child with a severe disability who needs full-time care.

What happens if my application is declined?

SASSA must tell you in writing why your application was unsuccessful. You can generally appeal to the Minister of Social Development through the Department of Social Development within about 90 days of the decision.

Does the grant continue after the child turns 18?

Generally no. The Care Dependency Grant is paid for a qualifying child under 18. Confirm with SASSA what support may apply once the child becomes an adult, since a different grant or process may be relevant.

Is there a means test for foster parents?

According to SASSA, the income means test generally does not apply where the caregiver is a foster parent. Confirm your specific situation with SASSA, since supporting documents may still be required.

Disclaimer: SA Grant Dates is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with SASSA or the South African government. Eligibility rules, amounts and processes are determined by SASSA and may change. Always verify current details on the official SASSA website.

Official Sources & Review Date

Last reviewed: 16 August 2026. This page is based on the official SASSA website and South African Government social-benefits guidance. Rules, amounts and procedures can change, so confirm important decisions through an official SASSA channel.