Get to know how Care Dependency Grant works in South Africa and find out if you qualify for the social benefit!
The Care Dependency Grant is a vital support system designed to assist parents and caregivers of children with severe disabilities. This grant ensures that children who require extensive care due to their disabilities receive the necessary financial aid to help cover the costs associated with their needs.
With many families grappling with unemployment and a lack of resources, this grant helps families when it comes to meeting the children’s necessities, that significantly impacts their life quality. Also, if you want to check out more financial tips on our website, you can click on this link!
What Is a Care Dependency Grant?
It is a social assistance program offered by the South African government. It is specifically tailored for children under the age of 18 who have a severe disability, requiring full-time and special care due to their condition. This grant is part of the broader range of social grants provided by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), aiming to support vulnerable groups in society.
The primary goal is to alleviate the financial burden on families who are caring for a child with a severe disability. These children often need specialized medical treatment, therapies, or additional care, which can be quite costly. The grant helps ensure that such children have access to the care they need to improve their quality of life.
How Does Care Dependency Grant Work in South Africa?
It works as a means-tested financial support system. This means that the grant is awarded based on the income and financial status of the child’s caregivers. The grant is designed to provide financial assistance to low-income families who may not have the means to afford the specialized care their child needs.
The grant is paid out monthly through various means, including direct bank transfers, electronic vouchers, at SASSA pay points, or at an institution acting as administrator of the grant. If you are unable to collect the money yourself, you can appoint a procurator at the SASSA office, or give someone power of attorney to collect the it on your behalf. The flexibility in payment options allows that the social benefit reaches even those in rural or remote areas where banking infrastructure might be limited.
How Much Do You Get From It?
The value of the Care Dependency Grant is periodically adjusted to account for economic changes and inflation, so it remains a viable form of financial support for struggling families. It provides a monthly payment of R2,180. On October 2024, the grant will increase by R10, meaning the new amount will be R2,190 per month.
Who Qualifies for Care Dependency Grant South Africa?
Not every caregiver is eligible for it. SASSA has set specific criteria that must be met:
- Residency and Citizenship: to qualify for the grant, the applicant must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or a refugee living in South Africa. Both the child and the caregiver must be residing in the country at the time of application;
- Age of the Child: the child for whom the grant is being claimed must be under the age of 18. If the child turns 18, the grant will be discontinued;
- Income Thresholds: for single caregivers, their income must not exceed R223,200 per year. For married couples, the combined income must be less than R446,400 per year;
- Primary Caregiver Status: the applicant must be a parent, primary caregiver or a foster parent appointed by the court. If you are not the child’s parent, you must provide proof that you are the child’s primary caregiver through an affidavit from a police official, a social worker’s report, an affidavit from the biological parent or a letter from the principal of the school attended by the child;
- Child Status: the child must have a severe disability and need full-time and special care, and not be cared for in a state institution.
How to Apply
First, the applicant needs to visit their nearest SASSA office. Applicants will fill out an application form and submit the necessary documents to SASSA staff. The application will then be processed, and the caregiver will be notified of the outcome. You’ll need to take the following required documents with you:
- Your 13 digit-bar-coded identity document (ID);
- Child’s birth certificate;
- A medical/assessment report that confirms the child’s disability;
- Proof of your marital status;
- Your salary slip, bank statements for the previous three months, or pension slips, and any other proof of income (this does not apply to refugee foster parents);
- If you are:
- not the child’s parent – proof that you are the child’s primary caregiver through an affidavit from a police official, a social worker’s report, an affidavit from the biological parent or a letter from the school principal from the school attended by the child;
- 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;
- unemployed – proof from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or a discharge certificate from your previous employer;
- a refugee foster parent – refugee status permit and refugee ID;
- the child’s foster parent – the court order placing the child in your care.
If you don’t have an ID or the child’s birth certificate, you must complete an affidavit in a standard SASSA format in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official. For it, you’ll need to take the following documents:
- Bring a sworn statement signed by a reputable person (such as a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, minister of religion or school principal) who can verify your name and age;
- Proof that you have applied for an ID and/or birth certificate at the Department of Home Affairs;
- A temporary ID issued by the Department of Home Affairs (if applicable);
- Baptismal certificate (if available);
- Road to health clinic card (if available);
- School report (if available).
Keep in mind that, if you are too old or sick to travel to the office to apply, a family member or friend can apply on your behalf. The person will need to take a letter from you and/or a doctor’s note saying why you cannot visit the office.
After you complete the application form in the presence of the SASSA official, you will be given a receipt. Keep it as proof that you applied. It may take up to three months to process your application. If your grant is approved, you will be paid from the date on which you applied.