Foster Care Grant Requirements (2026)
Understanding the eligibility requirements for the SASSA Foster Care Grant is essential before applying. The grant has specific criteria that both the foster caregiver and the child must meet, including legal foster care status, income thresholds, and caregiver qualifications. This comprehensive 2026 guide covers all requirements in detail, helping you determine if you qualify for the Foster Care Grant in South Africa.
Overview of Requirements
Who Can Receive the Grant?
The Foster Care Grant is paid to legal foster parents who are caring for children placed in their care through the formal foster care system. The grant helps foster families provide for children's basic needs.
Grant Amount (2026)
- Monthly Payment: R1,180 per month per foster child
- Payment Frequency: Monthly
- Multiple Children: One grant per foster child
- Annual Review: Amount may be adjusted annually
Child Eligibility Requirements
Legal Foster Care Status
Primary Requirement:
- Child must be in legal foster care
- Must have court order or foster care placement
- Must be placed through formal foster care system
- Cannot be informal care arrangement
Required Documentation:
- Court order for foster care
- Foster care placement certificate
- Letter from social worker
- Proof of legal foster care status
Age Requirement
Child Must Be:
- Under 18 years old
- Grant continues until child's 18th birthday
- No minimum age requirement
- Age verified through birth certificate or ID
Important Notes:
- Grant automatically ends when child turns 18
- No extension beyond 18th birthday
- Child must be under 18 at time of application
- Age verified through official documents
Citizenship and Residency
Child Must Be:
- South African Citizen: Born in South Africa with SA citizenship, OR
- Permanent Resident: Hold valid permanent residence permit, OR
- Refugee: Hold valid refugee status
Residency Requirement:
- Child must be living in South Africa
- Child must be in foster caregiver's care
- Cannot be temporarily visiting
Caregiver Eligibility Requirements
Legal Foster Parent Status
Must Be:
- Legal foster parent with court order
- Formally approved foster caregiver
- Placed through formal foster care system
- Cannot be informal caregiver
Required Documentation:
- Court order for foster care
- Foster care approval certificate
- Letter from social worker confirming status
- Proof of legal foster parent status
Caregiver Citizenship and Residency
Caregiver Must Be:
- South African Citizen: Hold valid SA ID, OR
- Permanent Resident: Hold valid permanent residence permit, OR
- Refugee: Hold valid refugee status
Residency Requirement:
- Must be living in South Africa
- Must be physically present in SA
- Cannot be temporarily visiting
Caregiver Age Requirement
No Maximum Age:
- No upper age limit for caregivers
- Must be able to provide care
- Must meet other requirements
- Age verified through ID
No Minimum Age (with conditions):
- Technically no minimum age
- But must be able to provide care
- Must meet other requirements
- May require additional verification if very young
Means Test (Income Requirements)
Income Thresholds (2026)
Single Caregiver:
- Monthly Income Limit: R6,000 or less
- Calculation: All income sources combined
- Includes: Employment, self-employment, other grants, support, etc.
Married/Coupled Caregiver:
- Combined Monthly Income Limit: R12,000 or less
- Calculation: Both caregivers' income combined
- Includes: All income from both partners
Important Notes:
- Income is assessed monthly
- All income sources are considered
- Regular income, not one-time payments
- Average income if income varies
What Counts as Income?
Income Sources Included:
- Employment Income: Salary, wages, part-time work
- Self-Employment: Business income, freelance work
- Other Grants: Other SASSA grants received
- Support Payments: Spousal maintenance, family support
- Rental Income: Property rental income
- Investment Income: Interest, dividends, returns
- Other Regular Income: Any other recurring income
Income Exclusions:
- One-time payments (gifts, loans)
- Food parcels or vouchers
- Emergency assistance
- Non-cash support
- Loans (must be repaid)
Additional Requirements
Documentation Requirements
Essential Documents:
- Court order for foster care (original and copy)
- Foster care placement certificate
- Child's birth certificate (original and certified copy)
- Caregiver's South African ID (original and certified copy)
- Proof of income (bank statements, payslips, etc.)
- Proof of address (utility bill, lease agreement, etc.)
- Banking details (for payment)
Additional Documents (if applicable):
- Letter from social worker
- Foster care approval certificate
- Marriage certificate (if married)
- Proof of relationship to child (if applicable)
Foster Care Status Verification
Proof Required:
- Court order for foster care
- Foster care placement certificate
- Letter from social worker
- Proof of formal foster care arrangement
- Evidence of legal foster parent status
Verification Methods:
- SASSA verifies with social services
- May check with courts
- May verify with social workers
- May require additional documentation
Exclusions and Restrictions
Who Cannot Receive the Grant?
Exclusions:
- Informal Caregivers: Not in formal foster care system
- Income Above Threshold: Caregivers earning more than R6,000 (single) or R12,000 (coupled)
- No Legal Foster Care Status: Child not in legal foster care
- Receiving Child Support Grant: Cannot receive both grants for same child
- Child Over 18: Foster Care Grant ends at 18
Grant Limitations
One Grant Per Child:
- Only one person can receive grant per child
- If multiple caregivers, primary foster parent applies
- Cannot split grant between caregivers
Cannot Combine with Other Grants:
- Cannot receive Foster Care Grant and Child Support Grant for same child
- Can receive Foster Care Grant for multiple children (one per child)
- Other grants may affect eligibility
Special Circumstances
Multiple Foster Children
Eligibility:
- Can apply for grant for each foster child
- Each child receives R1,180 per month
- Must meet requirements for each child
- Each child must have legal foster care status
Payment:
- Payments may be combined or separate
- Total depends on number of foster children
- Example: 3 foster children = R3,540 per month
Temporary Foster Care
Eligibility:
- Temporary foster care placements may qualify
- Must have legal foster care status
- Must meet all standard requirements
- Grant continues as long as foster care continues
Permanent Foster Care
Eligibility:
- Permanent foster care placements qualify
- Must have legal foster care status
- Must meet all standard requirements
- Grant continues until child turns 18
Maintaining Eligibility
Ongoing Requirements
To Keep Receiving Grant:
- Child must remain in legal foster care
- Foster care status must remain valid
- Caregiver must continue to meet means test
- Child must remain under 18
- Update SASSA if circumstances change
- Participate in periodic reviews
Changes That Affect Eligibility
Notify SASSA If:
- Foster care status changes
- Child's circumstances change
- Income increases above threshold
- Caregiver status changes
- Address changes
- Banking details change
- Child turns 18 (grant ends)
Consequences of Not Reporting:
- Grant may be suspended
- Overpayments may need to be repaid
- Legal action possible
- Future grant eligibility affected
Application Requirements
Required Documents Checklist
For the Foster Child:
- Court order for foster care
- Foster care placement certificate
- Birth certificate (original and certified copy)
- Proof of citizenship/residency
- School enrollment proof (if applicable)
For the Foster Caregiver:
- South African ID (original and certified copy)
- Court order for foster care
- Foster care approval certificate
- Proof of income
- Proof of address
- Banking details
- Letter from social worker (if applicable)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income threshold for 2026?
For 2026, single foster caregivers must earn R6,000 or less per month, and married/coupled caregivers must have combined income of R12,000 or less.
Can I apply if I'm not a legal foster parent?
No, you must be a legal foster parent with a court order to apply for the Foster Care Grant. Informal caregivers cannot apply.
How many children can I apply for?
You can apply for the grant for each foster child in your legal care. Each child receives R1,180 per month if approved.
What if my foster care placement is temporary?
Temporary foster care placements may qualify if they have legal foster care status and meet all other requirements.
Can I receive both Foster Care Grant and Child Support Grant?
No, you cannot receive both grants for the same child. You can receive Foster Care Grant for foster children and Child Support Grant for biological children (if eligible).
What documents do I need?
Essential documents include: court order for foster care, foster care placement certificate, child's birth certificate, your ID, proof of income, proof of address, and banking details.
How long does the grant last?
The grant continues until the child turns 18 years old, at which point it automatically ends.
What if my income is slightly above the threshold?
If your income is above the threshold, you don't qualify. The threshold is strict—even R6,001 (for single) or R12,001 (for coupled) means you don't qualify.
Can I appeal if my application is declined?
Yes, you can appeal a decline decision within 90 days. Provide supporting documentation and explain why the decline was incorrect.
How do I update my information after approval?
You can update information through the SASSA website, WhatsApp, by calling the call centre, or by visiting a SASSA office.
Conclusion
The Foster Care Grant has specific eligibility requirements including legal foster care status, income thresholds, and caregiver qualifications. Understanding these requirements—including how income is calculated, what documentation is needed, and how to maintain eligibility—helps ensure a successful application. The grant provides essential support for foster families, helping meet children's basic needs.
For more information about applying for the grant, payment dates, or maintaining your grant, explore our other comprehensive Foster Care Grant guides.
Related Articles:
Official Resources:
