Check the Care Dependency Grant
Child under 18 · severe disability · means tested
This is an independent estimate based on published SASSA rules and does not guarantee approval. Always confirm and apply through official SASSA channels.
The Care Dependency Grant supports carers of a child under 18 with a severe disability. Check the age, medical and means-test rules and your estimated amount.
Child under 18 · severe disability · means tested
This is an independent estimate based on published SASSA rules and does not guarantee approval. Always confirm and apply through official SASSA channels.
The Care Dependency Grant supports a parent or caregiver of a child under 18 with a severe disability who needs permanent, full-time care.
A doctor must confirm the disability and the need for full-time care before the grant is approved.
The caregiver's income is tested: up to R24,000/month for a single caregiver or R48,000 combined for a married couple.
The Care Dependency Grant is a monthly payment from the SASSA for a parent, foster parent, or caregiver looking after a child under 18 with a severe disability that needs permanent, full-time care. It recognises that a child with a severe disability places a heavy, ongoing demand on the person caring for them — care that often makes it impossible for that caregiver to work normal hours — and it helps meet the extra costs of that care.
To qualify, all of the following must be true:
The key phrase is severe disability needing permanent full-time care. A child with a mild or manageable condition, or one who can attend an ordinary school and manage daily life with limited help, will usually not qualify. The grant is aimed at children whose care is intensive and constant.
| Grant | Monthly amount (Feb 2026) |
|---|---|
| Care Dependency Grant | R2,400 |
This is considerably more than the ordinary Child Support Grant, which reflects the far greater cost and intensity of caring for a child with a severe disability. Grant amounts are usually reviewed and adjusted twice a year, in April and October, and increases are applied automatically. See SASSA grant amounts in 2026 and the 2026 increases for the current figures across all grants.
Amounts change. Confirm the current figure at sassa.gov.za or your nearest office before relying on it. This is an independent help site, not SASSA.
For context, here is how the child-related grants compare:
| Grant | Monthly amount | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Child Support Grant | R580 | A child in a low-income household |
| Foster Child Grant | R1,290 | A child placed in foster care by a court |
| Care Dependency Grant | R2,400 | A child under 18 with a severe disability |
Like the adult Disability Grant, the Care Dependency Grant depends on a medical assessment — you cannot simply state that the child is disabled. A SASSA-appointed medical officer assesses the child to confirm that the disability is severe and that it requires permanent, full-time care.
Bring all the child's medical records: clinic and hospital cards, specialist reports, diagnoses, therapy records, and a list of medication or equipment the child depends on. Thin medical evidence is the most common reason these applications are declined, so gather as much documented history as you can before you apply.
Like the adult grant, an award can be made for a fixed period where the child's condition might change, or on a longer-term basis where it will not — but in both cases SASSA can review the grant later.
The Care Dependency Grant has its own means test, and importantly the income limits are much higher than for the Older Persons or Disability grants. The test is applied to the caregiver (and their spouse, if married), not to the child.
| Marital status | Monthly income limit | Annual income limit |
|---|---|---|
| Single | R24,000 | R249,600 |
| Married (combined) | R48,000 | R499,200 |
Compare that with the R9,350 single limit on the Older Persons and Disability grants and you can see the difference: a working parent on a solid salary can still qualify for the Care Dependency Grant where they would fail the means test for other grants. This is deliberate — the state recognises that caring for a severely disabled child imposes costs even on households that are not poor.
For married caregivers, both spouses' income is combined and compared against the R48,000 limit. Income below the threshold means the full grant; a sliding scale applies near the ceiling, so a household close to the limit may receive a reduced amount rather than nothing.
There is a special case for foster parents: a child who is in formal foster care may be assessed differently, because the foster relationship is established by a court. Test your household figures with the means test calculator, and read the means test explained for the underlying rules.
You apply in person at your nearest SASSA local office, and applying is free. The child must be assessed, so plan for two touchpoints — the application and the assessment.
Our detailed walkthrough is in the guide to applying for the Care Dependency Grant. Because this grant, like most SASSA grants, is handled in person, the comparison in applying online versus in person explains why you cannot complete the whole thing on a website.
The full checklist is in documents for a SASSA grant.
Families often confuse these three, so it is worth setting them side by side.
For a fuller comparison of the child grants, see SRD versus Child Support and who qualifies for SASSA grants. If you are trying to work out which combination of grants a household can legally hold, can you get multiple grants sets out the rules.
Once approved, the grant is paid into a bank account or onto the SASSA/Postbank card, following the monthly schedule.
SASSA reviews Care Dependency Grants to confirm the child still needs full-time care and that the household still passes the means test. You may be asked for an updated medical report or fresh proof of income. The grant also ends when the child turns 18 — diarise this, because at that point the young adult would need to apply for the Disability Grant separately if they still cannot support themselves. Keep your contact details current so you receive review notices; see updating your SASSA phone number.
These are illustrative estimates only. The real outcome depends on the child's assessment and SASSA's review of your household.
Nosipho is a single mother earning R6,000 a month. Her 7-year-old son has cerebral palsy and needs constant care, confirmed by the assessment. Her income is far below the R24,000 single limit. She qualifies for the full R2,400. She can also receive a Child Support Grant for her other, non-disabled child, since that is a grant for a different child.
David and Sarah are married and earn R32,000 a month between them. Their daughter has a severe developmental disability requiring full-time care. Their combined income is under the R48,000 married limit, so — with a qualifying assessment — they qualify, even though their income is well above the limit that applies to the Older Persons or Disability grants. This is the generosity of the Care Dependency means test in action.
Michael is a single father earning R24,000 a month. His son qualifies medically, but Michael's income exceeds the R24,000 single limit. He does not qualify on the means test, although because he is only modestly over, the sliding scale means it is still worth applying to see whether a reduced amount is payable.
Ayanda has received the Care Dependency Grant for her daughter for years. When her daughter turns 18, the grant ends automatically. Her daughter, still unable to work, applies for the adult Disability Grant in her own name and faces a fresh assessment and the stricter R9,350 single means test.
Everything here is guidance to help you prepare a strong application. The assessment, the current amounts, and the final decision rest with SASSA. Verify details at sassa.gov.za, call the toll-free line on 0800 60 10 11, or visit your nearest SASSA office before relying on any figure.