The Care Dependency Grant is a social grant funded by the South African Social Security Agency intended to support parents or foster parents who maintain children with very severe disabilities that require full-time care. The grant is aimed at children below 18 years who are not permanently discharged to any state institution and covers extra expenses occurring, such as hospital and medical care, therapies, special equipment, transport, and costs for constant supervision.
Amount and Changes for 2025 Grants
For the year 2025, the grant is henceforth reports to stand at R2,080 per month. As such, the amount was increased to help caregivers offset the rising costs of actually taking care of a disabled child. However, depending on the stage of rollout or region, earlier government/SASSA sources indicate a standard amount of R2,310 for consideration under the official scheme.
Who Is Eligible? And Having What Conditions Must Happen?
To Qualify For This Grant:
- The applicant must be the child s parent, the primary caregiver, or the foster parent recognized by law.
- Must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or eligible refugee.
- The child must be below 18 years of age, be severely disabled, and require full-time home-based care (not residing in a state institution).
- The official medical examination must be conducted by a state-appointed medical officer in respect of certifying the child as disabled.
- The income of the caregiver must be below some prescribed limits-except where the applicant is a foster parent, in which case the test may not apply.
Regular reviews may be conducted to ensure the condition has not changed.
Payment Dates & October 2025 Schedule
During payment-schedule reporting, CSG payments for October 2025 are due to be made on Monday, 6 October 2025. This is in line with the payment schedule for child-related grants (Child Support, Foster Care) that are generally paid after older-person and disability grants.
Payments appear in the beneficiary accounts between late morning and early afternoon, depending on the clearing cycle of particular banks.
How to Apply & Maintain Benefits
Application Procedures
- Get the application form from your nearest SASSA office.
- Provide key documents such as your ID and child birth certificate, medical/assessment reports, proof of income, proof of residence, and proof of care.
- A state-appointed assessor will carry out a medical examination of the child to confirm the seriousness and eligibility.
- Processing will commence. There may be times of several weeks to months to get approval, depending on workload.
Grant Keeping Active
- Notify SASSA of any changes in address, income, or living arrangement.
- Prepare for a periodic review; from time to time, SASSA may undertake such reviews to reassess your eligibility.
- Keep accurate documentation and medical records as they may be required in such reviews.
Also Read: SASSA October Grant Payouts: Key Dates And Updates For Beneficiaries