Care Dependency Grant: Amount, Eligibility, Application and Payment
Care Dependency 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 Care Dependency Grant guide with current amount, eligibility, documents, application process, payment and review rules.
Current amount
| Grant | 2026/27 amount |
|---|---|
| Care Dependency Grant | R2,400 per month |
Who the grant is for
Caregivers of children under 18 with severe disability who need full-time and special care.
Eligibility checklist
- Be the parent, primary caregiver or court-appointed foster parent.
- The child must be under 18 and need full-time special care because of severe disability.
- The child must be assessed by a state medical officer.
- Caregiver and child must live in South Africa.
- Meet the caregiver means test; the income limit does not apply to foster parents.
Documents to prepare
- Caregiver ID and child’s birth certificate.
- Medical assessment and supporting medical information.
- Proof of income where means-tested.
- Court order if the applicant is a foster parent.
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 child’s medical and care circumstances and the caregiver’s declared income can be reviewed. The grant ends when the child turns 18, subject to transition to other support where applicable.
When the grant can stop or lapse
- the child turns 18
- the child dies
- the child is permanently admitted to a state institution
- the child is absent from South Africa
- review or changed circumstances end eligibility
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Care Dependency Grant in 2026?
R2,400 per month
Is the Care Dependency 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