In the month of earliest starting October 2025, the South African Social Security Agency will revise and roll out the Care Dependency Grant: a mere R2,080 per month to be paid to families that look after severely disabled children under the age of 18. This grant is just a mere aid of for the extra costs that have to be paid full-time for caregiving-front-ed into attending medical visits, putting in special equipment, travel expenses, and any other related overheads.
Who Qualifies For The Grant?
These remain the main qualifying criteria:
- The caregiver has to be a South African citizen or legally permitted resident (including refugees), and actually be either a parent, legal guardian, or foster parent of the child.
- The child should be under 18 years of age, and have a serious disability requiring full-time home care.
- The child must not be in a state care facility; the caregiver should live in South Africa with the child.
- Income limits apply on the basis of the caregiver: different limits apply for single and married caregivers, yet foster parents are exempted from these limits.
How To Apply And When
The application method is as follows:
- Go in person to your nearest SASSA office and obtain an approved application form. Carry along your ID, the child’s birth certificate, a medical assessment/report regarding the child’s disability, and backup of income.
- Fill out the application with the required personal information and remedy evidence. Submit the application to SASSA and obtain a receipt or acknowledgment for proof.
- SASSA may require an official medical assessment from a state doctor.
- The processing period usually ranges up to three months. If your application is approved, payments will be backdated to cover such time to the application, and you will be paid at R2,080 onwards monthly.
When Does The New Rate Become Effective?
The new rate of R2,080 per month becomes effective starting early October 2025. Prior to that, the rates will be the former ones. Review of eligibility and renewals will be done every year, or earlier if there are changes in circumstances (e.g., a change in income or living condition).
Why This Is Important For Families
Caring for a disabled child entails huge extra expenses: medical care, specialist equipment, constant supervision, transport, etc. Many caretakers are either maintaining an income or working less to provide care. This grant is R2,080/month and so does not cover the whole of a family’s needs, but it is intended to provide the family some relief and assistance with their basic needs.
What You Should Do Now
- Find out if you qualify and get all the documents ready for your application (ID, medical reports, birth certificate, proof of income).
- Apply as soon as in early October for the adjusted rate.
- Keep SASSA up to date with any changes (address, income, caregiving capacity).
- Follow up if your application is delayed, as you may be eligible for backdated payments.
Also Read: SASSA Pension Grant September 2025: R2,315 Payment Dates & Eligibility