Foster care order lapsed: protecting the grant
On this page (5 sections)
A Foster Child Grant is paid on the strength of a court order that runs for a fixed period. When that period ends, the grant stops. The fix is to have the children's court extend the order — and since the Children's Amendment Act 2022, presiding officers may extend orders for up to six months at a time, with a lapsed order treated as not terminated until the court extends or ends it. Start the extension three months before the expiry date. If payment does stop, claim the Child Support Grant immediately so the child is not left unsupported.
Before the order expires
- Find the expiry date and diarise it
It is on the order itself. If you cannot find the document, ask the children's court or your social worker for a copy. Do this today, not in the month it matters.
- Contact your social worker three months out
Extensions require the social worker to submit an updated report to the court. Three months is what allows for caseloads and court rolls.
- Ask for written confirmation that the extension is filed
A copy of the report or a letter with the case number is what you take to SASSA if payment is queried.
- Take the extended order to SASSA as soon as it is issued
Payment continues on the strength of the new order. Take it to the office rather than waiting to be asked.
If the order has already lapsed
- Contact the social worker immediately
Explain that the order has expired and ask for an urgent extension application. Keep a record of the date you made contact.
- Cite the 2022 amendments if you meet resistance
The Children's Amendment Act 2022 and its regulations allow a presiding officer to extend a lapsed foster care order for up to six months at a time, and an order is not treated as terminated until the presiding officer extends or ends it.
- Claim the Child Support Grant now
R580 a month, no court order, up to three months to payment. If the child is an orphan in a relative's care, claim the top-up at R860* instead. Both can be switched back when the foster grant resumes.
- Tell SASSA what is happening
Take the case reference and any written confirmation from the social worker to your SASSA office, so the file shows the extension is in progress rather than the placement having ended.
- Escalate if nothing moves
The DSD district office, then the complaints ladder. A child's support should not be lost to an administrative delay.
Foster Child Grant or Child Support Grant, long term?
For a relative caring for an orphaned child, the CSG top-up at R860* is R430 a month less than the Foster Child Grant — but it never lapses for want of a court date, needs no social worker, and pays until the child turns 18. If extensions have repeatedly stopped your payments, that trade is worth thinking about honestly. Foster care remains the right route where the placement itself protects the child.
Frequently asked questions
My foster care order expired. Does the grant stop?
Payment stops once SASSA's record shows an expired order. Apply for an extension through your social worker immediately, and claim the Child Support Grant meanwhile so the child is supported.
Can a lapsed foster care order be extended?
Yes. Under the Children's Amendment Act 2022, a presiding officer may extend a lapsed order for up to six months at a time, and the order is not treated as terminated until the court extends or ends it.
Do I get backpay when the order is extended?
Raise it at the SASSA office with the extended order and the dates. Where the extension covers the period, the arrears should be paid — take the paperwork rather than relying on the system to notice.
Can I claim the Child Support Grant while waiting?
Yes, and you should. The two cannot be paid at once for the same child, so the office switches you back when the foster grant resumes.
How much does an extension cost?
Nothing. Children's court proceedings and social worker services are free.
Verified information
- Responsible body
- South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
- Official source
- sassa.gov.za
- Status
- Officially confirmed
- Date verified
- Confidence
- High confidence
The extension provisions are confirmed against the Children's Amendment Act 2022 and its regulations, which allow presiding officers to extend lapsed orders for up to six months at a time and treat them as not terminated until the court decides.
SA Benefits is independent and not affiliated with SASSA or government. Editorial guidance on this page is clearly separated from official information — see how we verify.
What's changed on this page (1)
Published covering the expiry risk, the six-month extension route and the fallback to the Child Support Grant while an extension is pending.
Site-wide corrections are logged publicly in the corrections register.
Was this page helpful?
Your answer stays in your browser — we don't collect anything. It helps us decide what to fix and write next.