R790 SASSA Child Support Grant in 2025: Find Out If You Qualify and What You Get

Introduction & Context

The Child Support Grant (CSG) is one of South Africa’s key social assistance grants, administered by SASSA (South African Social Security Agency). It is intended to support low‑income caregivers in providing for children’s basic needs (food, schooling, clothing, health). Over time, SASSA has adjusted the grant amount, introduced top‑ups, and periodically revised eligibility thresholds.

In 2025, several important changes were made, including a modest increase in the base grant starting April. But the idea of a universal R 790 payment has not been confirmed in any official SASSA or government document — rather, it appears in some unverified or secondary sources. Thus, while parts of “R 790” may apply in specific top‑up cases, one should be cautious in assuming it applies broadly.

Below is a thorough breakdown of what is known and what remains speculative.

What Is the Official Child Support Grant in 2025?

Base Amount & April 2025 Increase

• Up to March 2025, the base CSG amount was R 530 per child per month.
• In the 2025 Budget Speech, the government announced a R 30 increase effective 1 April 2025, bumping the grant to R 560 per child.
• The top‑up portion (for certain qualifying children) also saw a small increase: the “top-up” grant went from R 270 to R 280 in the same period.

So, a child who qualifies for both base grant and top-up might receive R 560 + R 280 = R 840 in those special cases. But that is very different from a flat “R 790 for everyone” figure.

Payment Dates for 2025

These are the dates when the Child Support Grant is generally disbursed (but subject to province, weekends, and administrative delays):

Month	Scheduled Payment Date*
March	6 March 2025
April	3 April 2025
May	8 May 2025
June	5 June 2025
July	3 July 2025
August	7 August 2025
September	4 September 2025
October	2 October 2025
November	6 November 2025
December	4 December 2025

* These dates are for many parts of South Africa; in some areas the payment may shift slightly because of public holidays, system delays, or local administrative differences.

Eligibility & Means Test (What You Must Meet)

To qualify for the Child Support Grant in 2025, you must satisfy several conditions — both for yourself (the caregiver) and the child. The official government site (gov.za) lists the following:

Caregiver / Applicant Criteria

• You must be the primary caregiver of the child (parent, grandparent, guardian, or similarly responsible person).
• You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee.
• Your income must be below a certain threshold:
  • If you are single, your annual income must not exceed R 52,800.
  • If married or in a household, the combined income must not exceed R 105,600 annually.
• There are limits on how many non‑biological children (up to six) you can receive the grant for if they’re not legally your own.

Child Criteria

• The child must be under 18 years old.
• The child must live with you, the caregiver (i.e. share the same residence).
• The child must not be in a state institution (e.g. children’s homes, hospitals under institutional care).
• Both you and the child should reside in South Africa.

If any of these criteria fail (for example, your income is above the threshold, or the child is institutionalized), your application may be declined or your grant suspended.

The “R 790” Claim: What It Might Mean

Since the idea of R 790 appears in some online texts (for example, claiming that base + top-up amounts sum to R 790 for some qualifying children) , it is important to clarify what that might represent versus what is official.

• The official base + top-up amounts make it possible for a qualifying child to get more than just R 560. For example, base R 560 + top-up R 280 = R 840 in some cases.
• Some websites may present R 790 as a “typical total” (rather than a guaranteed number) based on older base‑plus‑top‑up that was valid before April 2025 (e.g. old base 530 + top-up 260 = 790)
• However, the official SASSA / government websites do not mention a flat R 790 as a universal standard. They currently list R 560 (base) + R 280 (top-up) where applicable.

Therefore, R 790 may reflect an old combination (before April 2025 increases) or a hypothetical illustration — not a confirmed amount for all cases in 2025.

Top-Up Grant: When Extra Support Applies

Beyond the base amount, certain children receive a top-up grant (CSG‑TopUp) to address more severe vulnerabilities, such as orphans or children in kinship care.

• The top-up was R 270 before April 2025 and increased to R 280 after the base increase.
• The top-up is not automatic for all children; only children who meet extra vulnerability conditions (e.g. orphaned, no parental care, etc.) may receive it.
• In months like March 2025, many beneficiaries received R 530 + top-up R 250 (for those eligible) as previously scheduled.

So a child getting both base + top-up after April 2025 might get R 560 + R 280 = R 840 total in applicable cases.

How to Apply, Check Status & Appeal

Application Process

1. Go to your nearest SASSA office (local branch) with required documents.
2. Complete the application form (usually free).
3. Submit supporting documents (see below).
4. Wait for processing — approval might take a few weeks.
5. You will receive confirmation (SMS, letter, or status update) if approved.

Documents You’ll Need

• Your South African ID (if you don’t have an ID, a temporary ID or affidavit may be accepted)
• The child’s birth certificate
• Proof of income (if employed) or affidavit of unemployment
• Proof of residence (such as utility bills or a letter from your landlord)
• If you are not the biological parent, proof of primary caregiving (sworn affidavit, social worker report, letter from school, etc.)

If you or the child lack some documents, SASSA often accepts affidavits or supporting statements from community leaders or school principals.

Checking Your Status

• You can check your grant status using SASSA’s online status portal by entering your ID and phone number.
• The portal will show whether your application is Pending, Approved, or Declined.
• If your banking details or other information is wrong, SASSA might request you to update it.

Appeals & Reviews

• If your application is declined, you have the right to appeal within a certain timeframe (often 90 days).
• You can submit additional documents or correct errors in your application to strengthen your case.
• SASSA periodically reviews grants — your income or circumstances may be checked again later to verify continued eligibility.

Things to Be Cautious About & Common Issues

Scam Attempts & Fraudulent Claims

Many people report scam calls / messages claiming that someone accidentally used their phone number to register for a SASSA grant and asking for an OTP to “approve withdrawal.” These are nearly always scams. > “Don’t give nobody anything … every random call or message is a scam unless proven otherwise.”

Some users report having someone register a grant using their ID and phone number, then attempting to withdraw the money.

Tips to protect yourself:

• Never share OTPs, PINs, or verification codes
• Always confirm with SASSA directly (not with callers) if someone claims something about your grant
• Report suspicious calls to SASSA and security agencies
• Regularly monitor your SASSA status and account details

Income / Bank Deposits Causing Declines

Some beneficiaries have reported being declined when unexpected funds are deposited into their bank account — even small amounts — because SASSA might interpret it as income.

Thus, be careful with family transfers into your account if you are relying on the grant; sometimes they may impact your eligibility.

Delays & Processing Backlog

Because the application process involves document verification, social assessments, and administrative work, delays can occur.
Your grant may take weeks or even months to start after approval, depending on local office capacity.

What to Do If You Believe You Qualify for “R 790”

If you’ve seen references to “R 790,” here’s how you can check whether you may be eligible for something close to that:

1. Check whether you qualify for top-up (for vulnerable children like orphans).
2. Check your SASSA status (approved / pending) and whether your bank or payment details are up to date.
3. Bring that claim to SASSA — ask at your local office whether there is a top-up or additional support program in your area.
4. Gather strong documentation (caregiving affidavits, death certificates, social worker reports) if your child is in a top-up category.
5. Stay informed via official SASSA / government announcements — if a formal R 790 scheme is ever adopted, it should be publicized in the national budget or a government gazette.

Summary & Final Thoughts

• The official Child Support Grant in 2025 is R 560 per child per month (after the April 2025 increase).
• Top-up grants for vulnerable children are available, and the top-up was increased to R 280 in 2025.
• If a child qualifies for both base + top-up, the total may exceed R 840 — but this is different from a universal “R 790 Child Support Grant.”
• The claim of R 790 is not confirmed by official SASSA sources; it likely reflects older base + top-up combinations, speculative reporting, or partial application cases.
• To benefit, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria, apply correctly with all required documents, monitor your status, and appeal if necessary.
• Always guard against scams, unauthorized OTP requests, and fake calls claiming to be SASSA.

FAQs