Caregivers urged to apply for extended child support grant

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is calling on caregivers of children with no parents to apply for the Extended Child Support Grant (ECSG).

This grant will benefit children whose parents are deceased, or one of the parent’s whereabouts is unknown.

Senzeni Ngubeni of SASSA said the grant was introduced to circumvent children without parents having to go through the foster care system process, purely for reasons of financial support.

“The current amount of the ECSG is R720 and is an additional amount added to the child support grant for the caregiver. In order to qualify the caregiver must produce the death certificates for both parents, or death certificate for the primary parent with an affidavit confirming that the whereabouts of the remaining parent is unknown and that he/she plays no role in taking care of the child.

Ngubeni said the R720 can be paid out in cash on specific days at pay points, or can be paid directly into the caregiver’s bank account.

For more information contact the SASSA toll free number 0800 60 10 11 from 8am to 4pm, during week days, Monday to Friday.

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