CI and LRC create guide on applying for a child grant without a birth certificate or caregiver ID

We have partnered with the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) to create an easy-to-read booklet that explains how to apply for a grant for a child that does not have a birth certificate, or if the child’s caregiver does not have an identity document (ID).

The Social Assistance Act of 2004 and its Regulations provide the rules and procedures for grants. One of the rules is that you must be a SA citizen, a permanent resident or a refugee to qualify. Regulation 13(1) requires the caregiver applying for a child grant to submit an ID for themselves and a birth certificate for the child. This is to prove that you are either a SA citizen, a permanent resident or a refugee. But there are some caregivers who do not have IDs and children who do not have birth certificates. To ensure that these caregivers and children are not deprived of their right to a social grant, Regulation 13(1) includes an exception to the requirement of birth certificates and IDs. The exception says that if a caregiver does not have an ID, or the child does not have a birth certificate, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) must accept the application without the birth certificate or ID. SASSA must then give the caregiver a SASSA affidavit to fill in and sign, and this will be accepted instead of the ID or the birth certificate.

The booklet was created with the support of SASSA.

To learn more about how to apply for a grant for a child that does not have a birth certificate, or if the child’s caregiver does not have an ID, download the booklet by clicking here.

For organisations wanting 20 or more copies of the booklet to distribute, email Zelda.Warrin@uct.ac.za