Update on SASSA Children’s grant for December 2024

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) oversees the distribution of the December 2024 Children’s Grant. Each month, taxpayer money is set aside to help financially distressed families with minors to help care for their loved ones.

If you are unfamiliar with how the December 2024 SASSA Children’s grant system works, you should know the following … There are currently three different government grants related to childcare from SASSA. However, you may only claim one at a time … and not all of them will be applicable to your family and child. We will get into the detail of each below …

DECEMBER 2024 SASSA CHILDREN’S GRANT

At last count, the SASSA CEO explained that approximately 13-million mothers already receive the R530 SASSA Child Support Grant every month. That’s the highest amount of recipients of any grant in South Africa – even higher than Social Relief of Distress (SRD) – which makes it the most expensive social welfare initiative, too.

In fact, we calculated that if a mother puts her newborn onto a SASSA Child Support grant from the month of his/her birth and lets it run to their 18th birthday, that child will cost the government more than R134 480. This conservatively factors in an estimated annual increase of 5% each year.

MORE APPLICANTS WANTED

Nevertheless, the Department of Social Development still believes more can be done for young mothers with newborns. As a result, the agency put out an urgent call back in October 2024, asking for any mothers with newborns to apply for a SASSA Children’s grant immediately after birth.   

When it comes to the December 2024 SASSA Children’s grant, three that will be paid early next month on Thursday 5 December 2024. Besides Child Support, there is also Foster Child and Childcare Dependency. However, to qualify you do have to pass the following means test:

• Earn less than R8 800 per month if you’re married (R105 600 annually).
• Earn less than R4 400 per month if you’re single (R52 800 annually).

Of course, you child must be under the age of 18, and you cannot receive more than one SASSA grant at a time. Also, applications can take up to three months to be processed, however, you will be back-paid to the date of application.

FOSTER CHILD AND CARE DEPENDENCY

The December 2024 SASSA Children’s grant for mentally/physically disabled children or foster children requires additional information. You will need to have your child declared disabled by a government-appointed doctor. Likewise, you are only eligible for the SASSA Foster Child grant if you are the rightful, court-appointed foster parent in accordance with the South African Child Care Act. The grants pay R2 190 (Care Dependency) and R1 190 (Foster Child)respectively.

Diarise the remaining Child grants till the next renewal and increase in April 2025:

• Thursday 5 December 2024.
• Tuesday 7 January 2025.
• Thursday 6 February 2025.
• Wednesday 5 March 2025.

For application or payment queries you can contact SASSA directly here:

• SASSA Toll-Free Call: 0800 60 10 11
• SASSA Head Office: 012 400 2322
• Email SASSA: grantenquiries@sassa.gov.za
• Or email: president@presidency.gov.za

APPLY FOR A NEWBORN’S ID

Crucial to mothers gaining access to a December 2024 SASSA Children’s grant for their newborns is registering as soon as possible with Department of Home Affairs eHome. Many parents are not getting their newborn’s unabridged birth certificate and identification document in order early enough, warns the DHA. Therefore, they are not eligible for SASSA child support payments until this is done.

After you have been through Home Affairs online portal, you must visit the recently upgraded SASSA Services portal to make an appointment. You do this online but then visit a SASSA branch in-person to transact your business. Be sure to bring the following documents with you:

• Valid identity documents of both the applicant (child) and spouse (if married).
• Proof of marital status (via a marriage, birth or death certificate of your spouse).
• Official birth certificate and ID of the child you’re applying for support for.
• Proof of income (of both you and your spouse).
• An approved three-month bank statement (no more than three-months old).
• Proof of address (a utility statement with your name on it that’s not more the three-months old).

Note that someone else can apply on your behalf if you’re unable to visit a SASSA branch office personally. You will need a doctor’s note explaining why and have all of the above signed and certified by a commissioner of oaths.