The agency has confirmed that March 2025 SASSA Childcare grants will go ahead despite uncertainty over the future of grants. Last week (Thursday 6 February 2025), President Ramaphosa left many SASSA grant recipients guessing after a cryptic State of the Nation Address (SONA). In it he hinted yet again at the future introduction of a Basic Income Grant (BIG), at the expense of Social Relief of Distress (SRD). But gave no further practical details.
Nevertheless, this is relevant to March 2025 SASSA Childcare grants because disbursement of ‘core’ SASSA grants to pensioners, war veterans and disabled are closely tied to South African Social Security Agency SRD grants. After all, there is only so much social-welfare budget (National Treasury’s second highest after debt servicing) to be divided up between them all …
MARCH 2025 SASSA CHILDCARE GRANTS
Therefore, the update on March 2025 SASSA Childcare grants is not as straightforward as many would hope. Besides SASSA-Postbank clients dealing with a sudden and urgent card-swap deadline, the rest are waiting to hear confirmed annual increases. Unfortunately, because SONA failed to touch on the subject, this means we must wait till the Budget Speech on Wednesday 19 February for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to address the increase.
Nevertheless, March 2025 SASSA Childcare grants will go ahead as scheduled, in spite of the inevitable arm-wrestle taking place at the agency. With just six weeks to go to April 2025 disbursements, 13-million young families with children are waiting with bated breath to know if they will be able to make ends meet. We’ve already predicted little more than a 5% increase for the year, because of the mess Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe has been left to clean up after her predecessor.Â
LANDMARK RULING IN COURT
At the core of this concern is the recent landmark High Court ruling that says millions of SRD applicants were ‘unlawfully’ excluded. The agency and National Treasury have said it will appeal the ruling, because doubling monthly SRD payments will be too expensive. Experts predict doing so will cost the taxpayer approximately R35 billionand will almost certainly impact disbursements like SASSA Childcare and others.
Nevertheless, let’s explore the latest for March 2025 SASSA Childcare grants and see which is applicable to your child/family. Stipends will be paid, as scheduled, on Thursday 6 March 2025. SASSA Child Support pays R530 per month. March 2025 SASSA Childcare grants paid that day, besides the aforementioned, also include Childcare Dependency and Foster Child. Only one parent (if married) may claim a grant for any child (under the age of 18).
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR PARENTS?
If you put a newborn child onto March 2025 SASSA Childcare grants from birth and it runs all the way to their 18th birthday, that child’s household will receive approximately R135 480. This conservatively factors in estimated annual grant increases of 5%per annum. Likewise, SASSA wants to do more for young parents with newborns. Last year it called on parents with young ones to urgently apply for SASSA Child Support. First, parents must register their newborn child with the Department of Home Affairs as soon as possible.
Then, to qualify you must pass the following means tests for each:
- Earn less than R8 800per month if you’re married (R105 600annually).
- Earn less than R4 400 per month if you’re single (R52 800 annually).
Applications can take up to three months to be processed, however, you will be backpaid to the date of your application if successful.
HOW TO APPLY
After receiving an unabridged birth certificate and ID document for your child from Home Affairs, visit the SASSA service portal. Make an appointment online. You do this before you visit a SASSA branch in-person. Make sure you have the following documents ready with you:
- Official birth certificate and ID of your child.
- Valid identity documents of both the applicant (child) and spouse (if married).
- Proof of marital status (marriage, birth or death certificate of your spouse).
- Proof of income (you and your spouse).
- Approved three-month bank statement (no older than three-months).
- Proof of address (a utility statement with your name on it that’s not more the three-months old).
CARE DEPENDENCY AND FOSTER CHILD GRANTS
Mentally or physically disabled children and foster children also get government support. They require additional paperwork. A child must be declared disabled by a government-appointed doctor. Likewise, you are only eligible for the SASSA Foster Child grant if you are the rightful, court-appointed foster parent in accordance with the South African Child Care Act. The grants pay R2Â 190(Care Dependency) and R1Â 190(Foster Child),respectively.
For further assistance you can contact SASSA directly:
- SASSA Toll-Free Call: 0800 60 10 11
- SASSA Head Office: 012 400 2322
- Email SASSA: grantenquiries@sassa.gov.za
- Or email: president@presidency.gov.za
- Call Postbank: 0800 53 54 55 or dial 120*218*38 to find a participating retailer
HOW CAN WE HELP WITH YOUR SASSA GRANT?
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