The South African government announced that beneficiaries of the Child Support Grant would be eligible to receive an increase on their grant amount. This is as part of the Social Assistance Amendment Act which aims to better social assistance benefits for orphans and vulnerable children.
The Child Support Grant (CSG) is provided to parents/guardians from lower-income households who care for the basic needs of their children.
The grant amounted to R480 but with the new CSG Top-up caregivers will receive an amount of R480, plus an additional R240 (50% of the basic CSG) bringing the total amount received to R720.
The new CSG Top-up was made official when the Department of Social Development gazetted the proclamation of the Social Assistance Amendment Act.
This grant is listed as one of the government’s most successful social protection interventions for children living in poverty and reaches more than 13 million children around the country.
The increase in the grant amount is intended to help the most vulnerable children by allowing relatives caring for these children to provide for their basic needs and support the extended family members of orphan children.
In order to apply for the grant, applicants should visit a Sassa office in an area close by.
Once the CSG top-up grant is legislated, it will become a permanent support measure. This is provided that beneficiaries meet the qualifying criteria for the grant.
Here’s What’s Needed To Apply For The Child Support Grant Top Up
– certified copies of the death certificates of the child’s parent/s; or
– if the death certificate of one of the parents of the child cannot be obtained by the applicant, a certified copy of the death certificate of one parent and an affidavit by the applicant attesting to the unknown status of the child’s other parent.
Applicants do not need an investigation, report or court order from a social worker in order to apply. However, social workers will monitor families after they have been approved for the grant to ensure that the child is being adequately taken care of and protected.
