The payment amount of R1250 is for foster care grant payments from August 2025. To some extent, this grant is to just cover the bare minimum expenses for foster parents and vulnerable children; basically, it subsidizes amongst other things, food, clothing, and school fees, while also providing a little monetary support to the foster parents for any immediate expenses they may incur. Currently, it is an online application, so foster parents just need to go ahead and apply to expedite prior grant approval if they are in time to apply. All that one needs to know about this grant is here.
Understanding the Foster Child Grant
What SASSA refers to as the Foster Child Grant shall be R1,250 monthly as reciprocal payments per child fostered by the foster parent from that date the child is deemed to be in the legal custody of an individual or institution by way of an Order of Court. The child care allowance intends to provide assistance in the maintenance of children under the age of eighteen who have been deserted by their parents or are orphaned, so that they may have at least something to live on; the scheme does so by co-foster care of over 400,000 foster children in South Africa. It is, in fact, one of the backbones of social welfare in South Africa in that it helps foster parents to provide foster children with an environment of security and nurture.
Eligibility Criteria
An applicant for the Foster Care Grant must meet the following requirements:
Legal Custody- Evidence in the form of a valid court order must be produced.
Residency- Foster parent and foster child must live in South Africa.
Citizenship- South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee.
Child’s Age- The age of the foster child must be below 18 years.
Means Test- Household income should be within the limits prescribed by SASSA and reviewed every year.
If disabled, the disabled child may further qualify for an allowance on presentation of a medical certificate.
If You Are Applying Online
There could be an application formchild sitting at home and applying via the online portal. Follow the steps below:
Go to the SASSA Portal-In your browser open services.sassa.gov.za to create your account. For this, you will require your South African Identity Number alongside your cellphone number.
Fill in the Form-Then fill in the application form of Foster Child Grant. Every information must be true.
Upload Documents-Upload the court order, the child’s birth certificate, your ID and proof of residence.
Payment Detail and Schedule
By August 2025 and thereafter, R1,250 should be paid to approved grant holder as stipend through bank deposit mostly. The payment date of foster child grant is the 7th of August 2025. If bank details are not updated, this may delay the payout. Collection from pay points like Pick n Pay or Post Office is optional.
Ways to Avoid Delays
Ensure all documents have been submitted and certified to speed up approval. Updates should be made to your contact and banking details on SASSA portal. On a regular basis, check the status of your application via at srd.sassa.gov.za or WhatsApp 082 046 8553; for issues, phone SASSA helpline at 0800 60 10 11.
The New Support System.
With rising living costs, the R1,250 grant has become a must for foster parents. Go online and submit your application ahead of time before August 2025 for the prompt welfare of your foster child.
Also read : New Pension Rules Kick In August 10: What South Africans Must Know