Foster Child Grant: Amount, Eligibility, Application and Payment
Foster Child Grant information is collected here in one complete guide so you can see the current amount, who can qualify, what to prepare and what can cause the grant to stop.
Complete Foster Child Grant guide with current amount, eligibility, documents, application process, payment and review rules.
Current amount
| Grant | 2026/27 amount |
|---|---|
| Foster Child Grant | R1,290 per child through September 2026; R1,300 per child from October 2026 |
Who the grant is for
Foster parents caring for a child legally placed with them by a court.
Eligibility checklist
- The child must be legally placed in your foster care through a court order.
- You and the child must live in South Africa.
- The foster arrangement must remain valid.
- The child is generally under 18, with limited continuation rules for qualifying learners after 18.
Documents to prepare
- Identity document.
- Child’s birth certificate.
- Valid foster-care court order.
- Refugee status documents where applicable.
- School attendance evidence and extended court order where continuation after 18 applies.
Application process
- Prepare the required identity and supporting documents.
- Complete the application through the recognised SASSA application process for this grant.
- Keep the receipt or proof of application.
- Provide any additional medical, court, income or identity evidence requested for the grant.
- Wait for the application decision; permanent-grant applications can take up to about three months in many cases.
Payment and collection
Approved beneficiaries can be paid through the payment method recorded for the grant, which can include an electronic bank/Postbank deposit or another recognised payment arrangement. The permanent-grant payment calendar is published for Older Persons, Disability and Children’s grants.
Reviews
The grant is tied to the validity of the foster-care court order. Review normally follows the expiry or extension of that order.
When the grant can stop or lapse
- the foster placement ends
- the court order expires without extension
- the child or last living foster parent dies
- the child is admitted to a state institution
- the child is no longer in the foster parent’s care
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Foster Child Grant in 2026?
R1,290 per child through September 2026; R1,300 per child from October 2026
Is the Foster Child Grant automatically permanent?
Not necessarily. Continued payment depends on the rules of the grant and ongoing eligibility; some grants or circumstances are subject to review.
How this page is verified
Amounts, dates, eligibility rules and process details on this page are checked against current South African government, Department of Social Development and SASSA publications. We publish the useful data directly here and review it when official information changes.
Last editorial review: 2026-09-23