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The 2007 Child Support Grant is R200 a month per child. You can be paid a Child Support Grant if you are the primary caregiver of one or more children. You do not have to be related to the child or children, but you must be the person who looks after them and takes responsibility for their everyday needs such as food, clothing, schooling and health care. The primary caregiver can be a sister or brother, a grandparent, a friend or a neighbour.

How do I know if I am able to claim this grant?

You are eligible if:

• You are a South African citizen.
• You live in South Africa.
• The child you are caring for is under 14 years.
• The child is a South African citizen and is living in South Africa.
• You are the legal guardian of the child, if you are not the parent.
• You have permission to look after the child (such as a court order), if you are not the parent.
• You are not paid to look after the child or children.
• You meet the requirements of the Means Test.

If you are not the child’s biological parent (you are not the birth mother or father of the child), you will need to fill in information about your relationship to the child. You will need to explain that you are the legal guardian of the child, that you have permission to look after the child, and that you have tried and failed to get maintenance money from the parents of the child. If the child’s parents have died or disappeared, you will need to write this on the application form and provide proof of death (death certificates) or disappearance (police reports).
 

The Means Test

If you live in a house or flat in an urban area and earn less than R800 a month (or R9 600 a year) or if you live in a rural area and earn less than R1 100 per month (or R13 200 per year), you will be eligible to receive this grant for your child or children. You  may not apply for support for more than six children of whom you are not the biological parent.

To show that you earn less than this amount, you will need to have copies of bank statements, or pay slips from your work. If you are not sure how to show proof of the money that you earn, ask your local advice office or social worker.

Before you go to your nearest Social Development office make sure that you have the following documents:

• Your Identity Document (ID) book (with the 13-number bar code).
• The child’s birth certificate or ID book (with the 13-number bar code).
• Proof of your regular income such as bank statements (for three months), pay slips or a letter from an employer.
• Proof of your spouse's income (pay slip or a sworn statement) if you are married and he or she is working.
• A copy of your discharge certificate if you were retrenched or fired from your previous work
  
• Your UIF book or certificate, or a sworn statement to prove you are unemployed.
• Papers to prove that you are the child’s legal guardian.
• Papers to prove that you have permission to look after the child.

A family member or friend can apply on your behalf if you are too old or sick to travel to the office. The person applying on your behalf should submit a letter from you and/or a doctor's note explaining why you cannot visit the office. A home visit may also be arranged. 

Steps to follow: 

• Complete the Child Support application form in the presence of an officer from the department.
• Submit the completed application form together with your ID document and the child’s birth certificate (or children's if you are applying for more than one child)
• Obtain a receipt once your application has been submitted.
• Keep this receipt as proof of your application.
  

• The application may be processed within three months but sometimes it takes much longer.
• You will receive a letter telling you whether or not your application has been successful.
• If your grant is approved, you will be paid from the day you applied.
• If the Social Security Office does not approve your application, you will be informed in writing as to reasons why your application was unsuccessful. If you disagree with the decision, you need to lodge an appeal to the Minister or MEC through the national or provincial office in writing and within 90 days of receiving the letter.

The grant is payable by the following methods:

• Cash at a specific pay point on a particular day
• Electronic deposit into your bank account (the bank may charge you for the service)         
  
• Post Office         
  
• Institution (e.g. a children’s home)