Child support grant extended to 15-years-old

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Pretoria - As from January next year, children who are 15-years-old will be eligible to receive a Child Support Grant from government.

"Cabinet is pleased to announce the approval of the extension of the Child Support Grant (CSG) to eligible children between the ages of 15-17 years," government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Thursday following an ordinary Cabinet meeting.

"The Child Support Grant for 15 year-olds will start on 1 January 2010; 16-year olds on 1 January 2011 and 17-year-olds on 1 January 2012," Maseko said.

These grants will benefit approximately 2 million children from poor households.

The total cost will be R1.3 billion, R2.6 billion and R3.5 billion respectively over the three-year period, he said.

Maseko noted this decision only applied to children from poor households, adding that it was part of government's commitment to reducing the incidence of poverty amongst children.

Caregivers of the beneficiaries will have the responsibility to ensure that the beneficiaries remain in school, Maseko said.

Over 13 million citizens are currently receiving social assistance benefits and of these beneficiaries, nine million are children.

Government has recognised social grants remain the most effective form of poverty alleviation, especially during the current financial downturn.

In April this year, government increased all grants, including the old age and disability grants, which were increased from R960 to R1 010, the child support grant from R230 to R240, foster care grant increased from R650 to R680 and the care dependency grant from R960 to R1 010.