SASSA Foster Child Grant Payment Status Check

A court placed a child in your care. Now you are responsible for that child’s food, school, and wellbeing. But the grant hasn’t arrived. Knowing exactly what to do next and when to expect payment matters more than anything right now.

Quick Summary: The SASSA Foster Child Grant pays R1,290 per month per child to South Africans who have been granted foster care by a court order. Check payment status via the SASSA website, WhatsApp on 082 046 8553, or call toll-free 0800 60 10 11. Payments follow an official monthly schedule.

What Is the SASSA Foster Child Grant?

The SASSA Foster Child Grant is a monthly social grant paid by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to caregivers who have been assigned legal responsibility for a foster child through a Children’s Court order.

This grant is specifically for children who have been placed in foster care because they were:

• Orphaned
• Abandoned
• At risk of harm
• Abused
• Neglected

It is different from the Child Support Grant. The Foster Child Grant is court-linked — meaning a legal process must have taken place before you can apply. The grant falls under the Social Assistance Act and is overseen by the Department of Social Development.

Who Qualifies for the Foster Child Grant?

The Foster Parent Must:

• Be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee
• Live in South Africa with the foster child
• Have the child legally placed in their care through a court order
• Ensure the child remains in their care throughout the grant period

The Foster Child Must:

• Be younger than 18 years old
• Live with the foster parent in South Africa
• Have been placed by a Children’s Court, not informally

If the child is a foreign national, their identity documents from their country of origin are required as part of the application.

How Much Is the Foster Child Grant?

Grant	Monthly Amount Per Child
Foster Child Grant	R1,290

The amount is significantly higher than the Child Support Grant because foster parents carry full legal responsibility for the child. The Department of Social Development reviews grant amounts annually.

How Will SASSA Pay You?

SASSA pays the Foster Child Grant through:

• Cash at a designated SASSA pay point on a fixed day
• Electronic deposit into your bank account or Postbank account
• Through a welfare organisation or institution acting as grant administrator

If you cannot collect the grant yourself, appoint a procurator at a SASSA office or grant someone power of attorney to collect on your behalf.

What Documents Do You Need to Apply?

Gather all of the following before visiting your nearest SASSA office:

• Your 13-digit bar-coded South African ID
• The child’s birth certificate or identity documents from their country of origin
• The Children’s Court order placing the child in your care
• Proof of marital status
• Refugee status permit and refugee ID (if applicable)

If you or the child does not have the required ID or birth certificate, bring:

• A SASSA-format affidavit completed before a Commissioner of Oaths
• A sworn statement from a recognised person such as a councillor, social worker, traditional leader, or school principal
• Proof of application for ID or birth certificate at the Department of Home Affairs
• A temporary ID issued by Home Affairs (if applicable)
• Supporting documents such as a baptismal certificate, Road to Health card, or the child’s school certificate

Note: A SASSA official will take your fingerprints during the application. You will be referred to the Department of Home Affairs to obtain an ID while your application is processed. Failure to get an ID will result in your grant being suspended.

Steps to Apply for the Foster Child Grant

Applying at Your Nearest SASSA Office

1. Visit the SASSA office closest to your home with all required documents
2. Complete the application form in the presence of a SASSA officer — only you or the SASSA official may fill in the form
3. Submit all supporting documents, including the court order confirming foster placement
4. Receive a receipt as proof of application — keep this document safe
5. Wait up to three months for processing

If your application is approved, payment is backdated to the date the Children’s Court placed the child in your care — not your application date. This is unique to the Foster Child Grant.

The service is entirely free of charge.

How to Check Your SASSA Foster Child Grant Payment Status?

Method 1 — SASSA Website

Visit https://srd.sassa.gov.za/SC19/STATUS and use the online SASSA status check tool. Enter your ID number & phone number to view your current grant status.

Method 2 — WhatsApp

Send a message to 082 046 8553 on WhatsApp. Follow the prompts and enter your South African ID number for a status update.

Method 3 — Toll-Free Call

Call 0800 60 10 11 — free from any South African landline or mobile. Available during SASSA office hours.

Method 4 — Visit a SASSA Office

Take your ID document to any SASSA office. A staff member will check your grant status directly on the system.

SASSA Foster Child Grant Payment Dates 2026–2027

The Foster Child Grant follows the Children’s Grant payment schedule, paid on the third date each month.

Month	Children’s Grant Payment Date
April 2026	08 April 2026
May 2026	07 May 2026
June 2026	04 June 2026
July 2026	06 July 2026
August 2026	06 August 2026
September 2026	04 September 2026
October 2026	06 October 2026
November 2026	05 November 2026
December 2026	04 December 2026
January 2027	07 January 2027
February 2027	04 February 2027
March 2027	04 March 2027

Plan your budget around these dates. If your payment does not reflect by the end of the payment day, contact SASSA immediately.

When Is the Foster Child Grant Reviewed?

SASSA reviews the Foster Child Grant when the Children’s Court order expires — currently every two years. You will receive written notice three months before the review date.

If you receive payment through a bank, institution, or procurator, you must submit a life certificate at a SASSA office every year as proof that you are still alive and the arrangement is ongoing.

When Can Your Grant Be Suspended?

SASSA may suspend the Foster Child Grant if:

• Your circumstances change
• You do not co-operate during a scheduled review
• Fraud or misrepresentation is discovered
• An error occurred during the original approval

When Does the Grant Lapse?

The grant lapses if:

• The foster child or last living foster parent passes away
• The child is admitted to a state institution
• The grant is not claimed for three consecutive months
• You or the child leave South Africa
• The child is no longer in your foster care
• You lose your refugee status (if applicable)

What If Your Application Is Rejected?

SASSA will inform you in writing with the reasons for the rejection. You have the right to appeal to the Minister of Social Development at the national Department of Social Development.

Submit your appeal within 90 days of receiving the rejection notice. Write clearly why you disagree with the decision and include any supporting documents.

Conclusion

The SASSA Foster Child Grant recognises the real financial responsibility that comes with raising a child placed in your care by the courts. At R1,290 per child per month, it is one of the higher-value grants SASSA offers — and rightfully so.

Apply as soon as the court order is in place, keep your documents updated, and respond to every review notice on time. For any payment issues or status queries, call SASSA on 0800 60 10 11 — the call is free and the help is real.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the Foster Child Grant the Same as the Child Support Grant?

No. The Foster Child Grant requires a Children’s Court order placing the child in your care. The Child Support Grant does not require a court order and pays a lower amount of R580 per month.

2. When Does my Foster Child Grant payment start?

If approved, your payment is backdated to the date the Children’s Court placed the child in your care — not the date you submitted your SASSA application.

3. How Often is the Foster Child Grant reviewed?

The grant is reviewed every two years, in line with the expiry of the Children’s Court order. SASSA will notify you three months before the review is due.

4. Can I receive the Foster Child Grant for more than one child?

Yes. The grant is paid per child. If you have multiple children placed in your foster care through court orders, you receive R1,290 for each qualifying child.

5. What happens if I lose my Refugee status?

Your Foster Child Grant will lapse if you are no longer recognised as a refugee. Contact SASSA immediately if your status changes so they can update your records.

6. What do I do if my Foster Child Grant payment is late?

Call SASSA on the toll-free number 0800 60 10 11, send a WhatsApp to 082 046 8553, or visit your nearest SASSA office with your ID and court order for assistance.