Caring for a child with a severe disability is a full-time job. It often means a parent or caregiver cannot work. The Care Dependency Grant exists to support that caregiver financially. It pays R2,400 a month.
This article explains who qualifies, what the assessment involves, and how it differs from two grants people often confuse it with.
What the Care Dependency Grant is
The Care Dependency Grant is paid to the person who takes care of a child with a severe disability. The child must be under 18 years old. The disability must be permanent and require full-time care.
SASSA pays the grant to the caregiver, not to the child. The caregiver is usually a parent or legal guardian.
The amount is R2,400 a month.
Who qualifies
To qualify, you must meet all of these conditions.
The child: – Must be a South African citizen or permanent resident – Must be under 18 years old – Must have a severe disability that requires permanent full-time care – Must not be in a state institution (such as a government-funded care facility)
The caregiver: – Must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee – Must be the primary caregiver – Must pass a means test – Must not be in a state institution
The means test checks your income and assets. SASSA uses your financial situation to decide whether you qualify. If your income or assets are above the threshold, your application will be declined.
How it differs from the Disability Grant
This is where a lot of people get confused. The Care Dependency Grant and the Disability Grant are not the same thing.
The Disability Grant is for a person who has a disability themselves. The applicant must be between 18 and 59 years old. It is also R2,400 a month.
The Care Dependency Grant is for the caregiver of a child with a disability. The child cannot receive it directly. The caregiver applies on behalf of the child.
Another way to see it: if a child is severely disabled and under 18, the caregiver applies for a Care Dependency Grant. When that child turns 18, they can apply for a Disability Grant in their own name.
How it differs from Grant-in-Aid
Grant-in-Aid is also often confused with the Care Dependency Grant. They serve different purposes.
Grant-in-Aid is paid on top of an existing Older Persons, Disability, or War Veterans Grant. It is for adults who already receive one of those grants and who need someone else to care for them full time.
You cannot apply for Grant-in-Aid on its own. And it is not for children.
The Care Dependency Grant, by contrast, is for children under 18 with severe disabilities, paid to their caregiver. It is a standalone grant.
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The medical assessment
SASSA requires a medical assessment to confirm that the child’s disability is severe and permanent. The assessment is done by a SASSA-appointed medical officer, not by your own doctor.
Your own doctor’s letter or hospital records can support your application. But they do not replace the SASSA assessment. SASSA makes the final call on whether the disability qualifies.
The assessment looks at whether the child needs full-time care. A child who needs significant support but can be left safely for periods may not meet the threshold. The disability must require permanent, ongoing full-time attention.
SASSA will schedule the assessment after you submit your application. You take the child to the assessment at the date and location SASSA gives you.
How to apply
You apply at your nearest SASSA office. Bring the following:
- Your South African ID document
- The child’s birth certificate
- Proof of residence
- The child’s medical records or reports from specialists
- Your bank details (the account must be in your name)
If the child has hospital records or reports from a specialist, bring all of them. The more documentation you have, the clearer the picture for the SASSA medical officer.
You do not need to bring the completed diagnosis from a doctor for the assessment itself. SASSA will conduct its own. The records you bring give background context.
What happens after you apply
SASSA will review your documents and schedule the medical assessment. After the assessment, SASSA processes the outcome and sends you a letter or SMS with the decision.
If approved, payments begin in the month following approval. SASSA pays directly into the bank account you provided.
To follow your application status, visit MySRD, an independent information website not connected to SASSA or government. You will need your ID number to check.
If your application is declined
SASSA will give a reason for the decline. Common reasons include the means test, missing documents, or a finding that the child’s condition does not meet the criteria for permanent full-time care.
You can appeal a decline. Contact SASSA to start the appeal process.
SASSA toll-free: 0800 60 10 11 SASSA WhatsApp: 082 046 8553
When the child turns 18
The Care Dependency Grant stops when the child turns 18. At that point, the young adult can apply for a Disability Grant in their own name if they still have a severe disability that limits their ability to support themselves.
It is worth starting that application before the 18th birthday to avoid a gap in support. SASSA can advise on timing at your nearest office.
