The SASSA care dependency grant pays R2,400 a month (from April 2026) to the parent, primary caregiver or foster parent of a child under 18 with a severe disability who needs permanent care or support. A medical assessment must confirm the disability. Parents and caregivers must pass a means test with a much higher income limit than the child support grant, and foster parents are exempt from the means test. The child must not be cared for full time in a state institution for more than six months.
| Quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Amount | R2,400 a month per child from April 2026 |
| Child’s age | Under 18 |
| Who applies | A parent, primary caregiver or foster parent |
| Medical proof | An assessment confirming a severe, permanent disability |
| Means test | Yes for parents and caregivers, no for foster parents |
| Combine with | Foster child grant (for foster children) or child support grant |
| At 18 | The young person can apply for the disability grant |
On this page: Who qualifies · Amount · Means test · Medical assessment · Documents · How to apply · At 18 · When it stops · FAQ
Who qualifies for the SASSA care dependency grant?
Section 7 of the Social Assistance Act says a parent, primary caregiver or foster parent is eligible if their child “requires and receives permanent care or support services due to his or her physical or mental disability” (Social Assistance Act, section 7). In practice:
- The child is under 18 and has a severe, permanent physical or mental disability.
- You are the child’s parent, primary caregiver or court-appointed foster parent, and the child lives with you.
- You are a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee, living in South Africa.
- You and your spouse pass the means test, unless you’re a foster parent.
- The child isn’t cared for 24 hours a day in a state-funded institution for more than six months.
SASSA describes the grant as “available to children under 18 with a severe disability who require ongoing specialised care” (The Witness, July 2026). Conditions that often qualify include severe cerebral palsy, profound intellectual disability, severe autism and conditions that need constant medical care, but the assessment looks at how much care the child needs, not just the diagnosis.
How much is the care dependency grant in 2026?
From 1 April 2026 the care dependency grant is R2,400 a month per child, up from R2,315. It’s the same amount as the disability and older person’s grants. If you care for two children who both qualify, you get the grant for each. See all amounts on our SASSA grant amounts page.
Care dependency grant means test
The income limit for this grant is much higher than for the child support grant, because caring for a child with a severe disability is expensive. GroundUp’s guide to social grants (updated March 2026) gives the limit as R288,000 a year for a single caregiver and R576,000 a year for a married couple (GroundUp). A July 2026 newspaper report gave lower figures, so ask SASSA to confirm the limit that applies when you apply.
- Foster parents: no means test. SASSA’s own grants page says “the income of foster parents will not be taken into consideration”.
- Parents and caregivers: your income and your spouse’s income are counted.
The medical assessment
You need a medical or assessment report confirming that the child has a permanent, severe disability. Bring a referral letter with clinical information from the child’s doctor, clinic or hospital. SASSA then arranges an assessment by a SASSA-appointed doctor. You can also book the assessment through SASSA’s online platform or at an office. Our disability grant guide explains how SASSA’s medical assessments work.
Documents you need
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Your ID and your spouse’s ID | Certified copies. A refugee permit if you are a refugee |
| The child’s birth certificate | With the child’s ID number |
| Medical referral letter | With clinical information about the disability |
| Proof of income | Payslips and three months of bank statements for you and your spouse |
| Proof of marital status | Marriage certificate, divorce order or affidavit |
| Court order or affidavit | A foster care court order, or an affidavit if you are the primary caregiver but not a parent |
| School attendance | For school-age children, if they attend school. Not having it doesn’t automatically disqualify you |
How to apply for the SASSA care dependency grant
- Get a referral letter from the child’s doctor or clinic describing the disability.
- Book the medical assessment online or at your nearest SASSA office.
- Take the child to the assessment with all medical records.
- Submit the application at the SASSA office with your documents and keep the receipt.
- Wait for the decision, usually within three months. If approved, the grant is paid from the date you applied.
If you’re refused, SASSA must give reasons in writing. You can ask for reconsideration and then appeal to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals within 90 days. Free help is available from Black Sash on 072 663 3739.
Can you get other grants with it?
- Foster child grant: yes. A foster child with a severe disability can receive both the foster child grant and the care dependency grant. See our foster child grant guide.
- Child support grant: not for the same child. Choose the care dependency grant because it pays more.
- Your own grant: yes. A caregiver can get their own older person’s, disability or SRD grant if they qualify.
What happens when the child turns 18?
The care dependency grant ends at 18. The young adult can then apply for the disability grant in their own name, which pays the same R2,400, and the grant-in-aid of R580 if they need full-time care. Start the disability grant application a few months before the 18th birthday so there’s less of a gap.
When the SASSA care dependency grant stops
- The child turns 18.
- The child is placed permanently in a state-funded institution.
- The child leaves South Africa permanently, or dies.
- The grant isn’t collected for three months in a row.
- A review finds the child no longer qualifies. SASSA gives at least three months’ notice of a review. See our grant review guide.
Children’s grants are paid on the third payment day each month: 3 November and 4 December 2026. See every month on our SASSA payment dates page, and all grants in our SASSA grants guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the SASSA care dependency grant in 2026?
R2,400 a month per child from April 2026.
Who qualifies for the care dependency grant?
A parent, primary caregiver or foster parent of a child under 18 with a severe, permanent disability who needs permanent care, confirmed by a medical assessment.
Is the care dependency grant means-tested?
Yes for parents and caregivers, with a much higher income limit than the child support grant. Foster parents are not means-tested.
Can a foster child get the care dependency grant and the foster child grant?
Yes. A foster child with a severe disability can receive both grants.
What happens to the care dependency grant at 18?
It ends. The young person can apply for the disability grant and, if they need full-time care, the grant-in-aid.
Can I get the care dependency grant and child support grant for the same child?
No. You receive one of them for that child, and the care dependency grant pays more.
How long does a care dependency grant application take?
Up to about three months. If approved, payment is backdated to the date you applied.
About this guide
Written and checked by N Chris, for SASSA Status Check Help. This guide was checked against section 7 of the Social Assistance Act, SASSA’s Services Portal grants page, The Witness (July 2026), GroundUp and Parliament’s Budget summary. We are not SASSA. Read how we verify information.