To: Department of Social Development (DSD), SASSA and Treasury

Tell DSD and Treasury to increase the Child Support Grant threshold


Dear Social Development Minister

We are writing to respectfully urge your office to review and revise the current income threshold for eligibility for the Child Support Grant.

We respectfully request that your office consider the following actions:

  • A review of the current income threshold of R5600 for single-income households and R11200 for married couple households.
  • An increase in the threshold to better align with present-day economic conditions.
  • The implementation of periodic adjustments in line with inflation.
  • A more flexible and inclusive approach that prioritises the best interests of the child.

Why is this important?


The current income threshold for the Child Support Grant does not reflect the lived reality of many South African families. While some caregivers may earn above the set limit, this does not mean they are financially secure.

The rising cost of living, covering essentials such as food, transport, rent, electricity, and education, continues to place immense pressure on households. As a result, many caregivers who still struggle to meet their children’s basic needs are excluded from receiving support, leaving vulnerable children without the assistance they require.
At its core, this issue is about fairness and the well-being of children.

The Child Support Grant was designed to protect and uplift children in low-income households, but the current criteria undermine that purpose by creating a rigid cutoff that fails to account for real economic conditions.

A slight increase in income should not result in the complete loss of support, especially when families remain under financial strain. When policies fail to align with reality, they risk deepening inequality instead of reducing it.

By signing this petition, you are calling for a more just and compassionate system, one that recognises the challenges faced by ordinary families and prioritises the best interests of children. This is a call for the government to review and increase the income threshold, ensuring it keeps pace with inflation and the true cost of living. Every child deserves access to basic support, and no family should be excluded because outdated criteria no longer reflect the realities on the ground.