School Learners Above 18 Are Receiving Child Support Grants

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is paying a substantial number of individuals, aged 18 and above, social grant payments. These individuals are currently enrolled in High Schools around the country. 

The Social Development Minister released data indicating that more than 110,000 individuals over the age of 18 are benefiting from the social support grants. In 2022, 112,545 learners over 18 were receiving the grant.  

This came after a question was posed to the minister calling for an updated report on an updated report on the child support grant received by learners over the age of 18 years in Grades (a) 9, (b) 10, (c) 11 and (d) 12 for the year 2022. 

The data provided by the social development department does not specifically refer to child support grants. 

Individuals Over 18 Receiving Social Grants 

The Child Support Grant is designed to assist lower-income households in covering the basic needs of their children. It is not a replacement for other income but aims to bridge the financial gap associated with child-rearing costs.

To qualify for the CSG grant, the primary caregiver (parent, grandparent, or main responsible party) must be a South African citizen or have permanent residency. Their annual income should not exceed R52,800 for single individuals or R105,600 for married couples. Non-parent caregivers need to provide proof of primary caregiving.

Children under 18 years old living with the primary caregiver, who is not paid to care for them, are eligible for Child Support Grant Payments. The child must not be in state care, and both caregiver and child must reside in South Africa. The grant does not apply to more than 6 non-legally adopted or biological children.

Those being paid for caregiving, not the primary caregiver, recipients of existing grants for the child, and institutional representatives are ineligible. Grant qualification is determined by a means test, limiting access to those below a certain financial threshold.

Sassa currently pays R510 per month to grant recipients. This amount is due to across the board increases for Sassa grants. 

When Sassa Will Stop Paying Child Support Grants 

Sassa will stop making child support grant payments if the child dies, reaches 18 years old, and the caregiver fails to claim for three consecutive months. Payments will also cease if the child is absent from the country, or the child is admitted to a state institution. 

If the child is of school going age, The child must attend school and produce proof of school attendance. 18 years. However, failure to produce this certificate or failure to attend school will not result in the refusal to pay the child support grant.

According to Sassa, the continued payment of the grant is reliant on the child attending school if they are of age.