Care Dependency Grant Amount (2026)

Understanding the exact payment amount for the Care Dependency Grant helps caregivers plan their budgets and know what financial support to expect. The grant amount is reviewed annually and may be adjusted based on inflation and government budget allocations. This comprehensive 2026 guide provides complete information about Care Dependency Grant payment amounts, including monthly payments, annual totals, and how amounts are calculated in South Africa.

Current Grant Amount (2026)

Monthly Payment Amount

• Per Child: R2,080.00 per month
• Payment Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)
• Payment Frequency: Monthly
• Payment Method: Bank transfer, SASSA card, or Post Office collection

Annual Payment Total

• Per Child: R24,960.00 per year (R2,080 × 12 months)
• Calculation: Based on 12 monthly payments
• Note: Actual annual amount depends on when grant starts/ends

Payment Breakdown

Monthly Breakdown:

• Per Child: R2,080.00
• Weekly Equivalent: Approximately R479.31 (R2,080 ÷ 4.33 weeks)
• Daily Equivalent: Approximately R68.20 (R2,080 ÷ 30.5 days)

Annual Breakdown:

• Per Child: R24,960.00
• Quarterly: R6,240.00 (R2,080 × 3 months)
• Bi-annual: R12,480.00 (R2,080 × 6 months)

Multiple Children

How Payments Work for Multiple Children

Key Points:

• Each eligible child receives R2,080 per month
• Payments are separate per child
• Total monthly payment = R2,080 × number of eligible children
• Payments may be combined or separate depending on payment method

Examples

Example 1: Two Children

• Child 1: R2,080 per month
• Child 2: R2,080 per month
• Total Monthly: R4,160.00
• Total Annual: R49,920.00

Example 2: Three Children

• Child 1: R2,080 per month
• Child 2: R2,080 per month
• Child 3: R2,080 per month
• Total Monthly: R6,240.00
• Total Annual: R74,880.00

Grant Amount History

Recent Amount Changes

2026 Amount: R2,080 per month
2025 Amount: R2,080 per month (same as 2026)
2024 Amount: R2,000 per month
2023 Amount: R1,980 per month
2022 Amount: R1,910 per month

Trend: The grant amount has increased gradually over recent years to keep pace with inflation and cost of living.

Future Amount Adjustments

Factors That May Affect Future Amounts:

• Annual budget review
• Inflation rates
• Cost of living increases
• Government policy changes
• Economic conditions

When Amounts Are Reviewed:

• Typically during annual budget process
• Announced in February/March budget speech
• Effective from April 1st (new financial year)
• SASSA announces changes publicly

How Grant Amount is Determined

Government Budget Process

Annual Review Process:

1. Government reviews social grant budgets
2. Considers inflation and cost of living
3. Allocates budget for social grants
4. Announces new amounts in budget speech
5. SASSA implements new amounts

Factors Considered

Economic Factors:

• Inflation rate
• Cost of living increases
• Healthcare costs
• Specialized care costs
• Support services costs

Policy Factors:

• Government priorities
• Budget constraints
• Social welfare commitments
• Economic conditions
• Political considerations

Payment Schedule and Amounts

Monthly Payment Schedule

Payment Timing:

• Payments made during first 7 business days of each month
• Specific date varies by province
• Payment covers previous month's grant period
• Example: January payment covers December period

Payment Amount Consistency

Important Notes:

• Amount is consistent each month (R2,080 per child)
• No variation based on month length
• Same amount regardless of payment date
• No pro-rating for partial months (typically)

Understanding Payment Amounts

What the Grant Covers

Intended Use:

• Additional costs of caring for child with severe disability
• Specialized care needs
• Medical expenses
• Support services
• Assistive devices
• Other disability-related expenses

Grant Purpose:

• Support caregivers of children with severe disabilities
• Help meet additional care costs
• Reduce financial burden on families
• Improve access to care and support
• Support children's well-being

Grant Limitations

What to Remember:

• Grant is supplementary support
• May not cover all care costs
• Families may need additional income
• Grant is one part of financial support

Payment Methods and Amounts

Bank Transfer

Amount Received:

• Full R2,080 per child
• Deposited directly into bank account
• No deductions for bank transfer
• Fastest payment method

SASSA Card

Amount Received:

• Full R2,080 per child
• Available at SASSA pay points
• No deductions for card withdrawal
• Immediate access to funds

Post Office Collection

Amount Received:

• Full R2,080 per child
• Collected from Post Office branches
• No deductions for Post Office collection
• Requires ID and reference number

Grant Amount vs. Other Grants

Comparison with Other Grants

Care Dependency Grant: R2,080 per month per child
Child Support Grant: R530 per month per child
Foster Care Grant: R1,180 per month per child
Disability Grant: R2,080 per month (for adults 18-59)
Old Age Grant: R2,180 per month (for 60+)

Note: Different grants serve different purposes and have different eligibility criteria. Care Dependency Grant is specifically for children with severe disabilities requiring permanent care.

Can You Receive Multiple Grants?

Care Dependency Grant + Other Grants:

• Can receive Care Dependency Grant for child with severe disability
• Can receive other grants for other children (if eligible)
• Cannot receive Care Dependency Grant and Child Support Grant for same child
• Each grant has separate eligibility requirements

Payment Amount Verification

How to Verify Payment Amount

Check Payment Amount:

1. Check bank statement for exact amount
2. Verify amount matches R2,080 per child
3. Contact SASSA if amount differs
4. Keep records of all payments

If Payment Amount is Incorrect

What to Do:

1. Verify expected amount (R2,080 per child)
2. Check if payment is for multiple children
3. Contact SASSA if amount is wrong
4. Provide proof of incorrect amount
5. Request correction

Calculating Your Total Grant

Single Child

Monthly Calculation:

• 1 child × R2,080 = R2,080 per month
• Annual: R24,960

Multiple Children

Calculation Formula:

• Number of eligible children × R2,080 = Total monthly payment
• Example: 2 children × R2,080 = R4,160 per month
• Annual: R4,160 × 12 = R49,920

Partial Year Payments

If Grant Starts Mid-Year:

• Payment amount remains R2,080 per month per child
• Total depends on number of months received
• Example: Grant starts in July = 6 months × R2,080 = R12,480 for the year

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Care Dependency Grant per month in 2026?

The Care Dependency Grant is R2,080 per child per month in 2026.

How much is the grant per year?

The annual amount is R24,960 per child (R2,080 × 12 months), assuming 12 full months of payments.

Do I get R2,080 for each child?

Yes, each eligible child receives R2,080 per month. If you have 2 eligible children, you receive R4,160 per month total.

Will the grant amount increase in 2026?

The grant amount for 2026 is R2,080 per month. Future increases are announced during the annual budget process, typically in February/March.

What if I receive a different amount?

If you receive a different amount than R2,080 per child, contact SASSA immediately. This could indicate an error that needs correction.

How is the grant amount determined?

The grant amount is determined through the annual government budget process, considering inflation, cost of living, and budget constraints.

Can the grant amount decrease?

Grant amounts typically increase or stay the same. Decreases are very rare and would only occur in exceptional economic circumstances.

When will I know if the amount changes?

Amount changes are announced during the annual budget speech (typically February/March) and take effect from April 1st of the new financial year.

Is the amount the same for all children?

Yes, the amount is R2,080 per month for each eligible child, regardless of the child's age (as long as under 18) or specific disability type.

How do I calculate my total if I have multiple children?

Multiply the number of eligible children by R2,080. Example: 3 children × R2,080 = R6,240 per month total.

Conclusion

The Care Dependency Grant provides R2,080 per eligible child per month in 2026, totaling R24,960 per child annually. For families with multiple eligible children, the total monthly payment is calculated by multiplying the number of children by R2,080. Understanding the exact payment amounts helps caregivers plan their budgets and know what financial support to expect. The grant amount is reviewed annually and may be adjusted based on inflation and government budget allocations.

For more information about payment dates, eligibility requirements, or how to apply, explore our other comprehensive Care Dependency Grant guides.

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Related Articles:

• How to Apply for the Care Dependency Grant
• Care Dependency Grant Requirements (2026)
• Disability Grant Payment Dates (2026)
• Child Support Grant Payment Dates (2026)

Official Resources:

• SASSA Official Website
• SASSA Grant Amounts
• SASSA Call Centre