1. Discover
  2. Programmes
  3. Child Support Grant, CSG
Last updated: 24/3/2022

Child Support Grant, CSG

Basic Information

Country
Geographic area
Sub-Saharan Africa
Programme type
Population group
Children

Programme Details

Programme objectives

To reduce poverty and promote investments in the physical, social and human capital of poor children.

References
Patel, L. 2011. “Child Support Grants: A South African case study.” In Sharing Innovative Experiences - Successful Social Protection Floor Experience, Vol. 18: 361. New York: UNDP. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---soc_sec/documents/publication/wcms_ secsoc_20840.pdf>.
Start date
1998
References
UNC Carolina Population Center. n.d. South Africa’s Child Support Grant Summary findings from an integrated qualitative-quantitative evaluation. Chapel Hill, NC: UNC Carolina Population Center. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://socialprotection.org/sites/default/files/CSG%20Evaluation%20 Summary%20Results.pdf>.
Previous programme name (if any)
State Maintenance Grant (SMG)
Coverage
11,953,974 children (which is over 65 per cent of South Africa’s child population) (2015)
Programme expenditure
1.1 per cent of GDP (or ZAR47.84 billion) (2015/16)

Targeting and eligiblity

Targeting methods
Means Test
Categorical Targeting
References
Department of Social Development, South African Social Security Agency and UNICEF. 2012. The South African Child Support Grant Impact Assessment. Pretoria: UNICEF South Africa. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.unicef.org/southafrica/SAF_resources_csg2012s.pdf>.
Targeted areas
Nationwide
Target groups
Poor children under 18 years of age
Eligibility criteria
The primary caregiver must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee; Both the applicant and the child must reside in South Africa; The applicant must be the primary caregiver of the child/children concerned; The child must be under the age of 18; The caregiver cannot apply for more than six non-biological children; The child cannot be cared for in a state institution; and The caregiver is subject to a means-test threshold of ZAR3,300 per month (or annual income of ZAR39,600) in 2015; if the caregiver is married then the combined threshold is double (ZAR 6,600 a month and/or ZAR79,200 per annum).
Eligibility reassessment (if any)
The Child Support Grant underwent eligibility reassessment regarding age requirements (at the beginning of the programme, the age threshold was seven years old, whereas currently, the age threshold is 18 years old) and adjustments to the income threshold to take inflation into account and improve equity.
References
Department of Social Development, South African Social Security Agency and UNICEF. 2012. The South African Child Support Grant Impact Assessment. Pretoria: UNICEF South Africa. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.unicef.org/southafrica/SAF_resources_csg2012s.pdf>.

Coverage and other information

Type of benefits
Cash
Amount of benefits
The amount changes every year, but the Child Support Grant is currently ZAR330 monthly, per child.
References
Government of South Africa. 2015. “Child Support Grant.” Government of South Africa website. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.gov.za/services/child-care-social-benefits/child-support-grant>.
Payment/delivery frequency
Monthly
References
Government of South Africa. 2015. “Child Support Grant.” Government of South Africa website. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.gov.za/services/child-care-social-benefits/child-support-grant>.
Benefit delivery mechanism
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) uses a privatised payment contractor, which pays the grant into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts, which can be withdrawn at designated pay points, contracted merchant stores or automatic teller machines (ATMs).
Benefit recipients
The recipient of the benefit is the child’s primary caregiver.
References
Department of Social Development, South African Social Security Agency and UNICEF. 2012. The South African Child Support Grant Impact Assessment. Pretoria: UNICEF South Africa. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.unicef.org/southafrica/SAF_resources_csg2012s.pdf>.
Minimum and maximum duration of benefits (if any)
The child may receive the grant from birth until their 18th birthday so long as the eligibility criteria are met. The grant lapses in the following cases: • if the child passes away; • if the child is admitted to a state institution; • if the caregiver does not claim it for three consecutive months; or • if the child is absent from the country at the end of the year in which the child turns 18.
Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and frequency
SASSA administers the grant, and its monitoring and evaluation branch produces monthly statistical reports of all its social grants, indicating the number of beneficiaries per region.

Related Content

Related Content