December 2025 SASSA Child Support Grants will go ahead this week as scheduled, on Thursday 4 December 2025. Unfortunately, the 13 million needy families who receive the R560 monthly stipend did not see an increase back in October. This is despite all other ‘core’ grants receiving one …
Nevertheless, in an unusual display at a public engagement last week, the Minister of Social Development made a special plea to beneficiaries. As posted on the agency’s social media, Minister Sisisi Tolashe wants to see parents prioritise the wellbeing and development of their children. “I’m pleading with parents to use December 2025 SASSA Child Support Grants to take care of your children and not to misuse the grant,” implored the minister.
DECEMBER 2025 SASSA CHILD SUPPORT GRANTS
While it’s unclear what brought about this impassioned plea, the minister herself is facing an uphill battle to keep her own department in order. Over the last few months there have been several hirings, firings and personnel switches in her department. So much so that critics have told the parliamentary portfolio committee that her role as minister should be reviewed.
Nevertheless, what the minister may be referring to is the ill-timed, five-week cycle for December 2025 SASSA Child Support Grants. After payment goes off this week, the next one is five weeks away (not the usual four), on Thursday 8 January 2026. And between now and then is the festive season with all its additional spending demands …
CHILD SUPPORT GRANT STILL NOT ENOUGH
Moreover, the South African Social Security Agency has been warned time and again that the R560 stipend is too low. Numerous advocacy groups lobbied for December 2025 SASSA Child Support Grants to be increased to at least the food poverty line of R790. Even though data from Economic Justice and Dignity group pegs the nutritional needs of a young child even higher at R826 – R1 085, age dependent.
That said, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Ganief Hendricks, was at pains to explain that SASSA does not determine the grant amounts, it merely distributes them. “Social grant amounts are based on legislative and policy frameworks and fiscal sustainability. There are constant consultations between the Department of Social Development and National Treasury to come to these figures,” said Hendricks.
HOW TO APPLY FOR DECEMBER 2025 SASSA CHILD SUPPORT GRANTS
If you have a child under the age of 18, here’s how you apply for December 2025 SASSA Child Support Grants. Firstly, the grant is only paid to one parent per child (not both). Secondly, eligible parents must prove to the agency that their means (income) is less than R5 600 per month if single, or R11 191 per month if married.
Bring along the following to a SASSA office to apply:
- Valid identity documents (IDs) of you, your child and spouse (if married).
- Proof of marital status (marriage, birth or death certificate of your spouse).
- Official birth certificate and ID of the child you’re applying for (you must get this from Home Affairs)
- Proof of income (both you and your spouse).
- Certified three-month bank statement (no more than three-months old).
- Proof of address (a utility statement with your name on it that’s not more the three-months old).
HOW TO CONTACT SASSA
As always, SASSA may be difficult to get ahold of, but here are the contact details:
- SASSA Toll-Free Call: 0800 60 10 11
- SASSA Head Office: 012 400 2322
- Email SASSA: grantenquiries@sassa.gov.za
But what do you think? Do you receive SASSA Child Support? And do you think the minister’s pleas are well-founded? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below …
