SRD grant · account

How to Change Your Phone Number for the SASSA SRD Grant (2026)

Lost your SIM, changed your number, or stopped receiving OTPs from SASSA? You can update your mobile number for the SRD grant online. This guide explains how to change it on the official portal and fix common OTP problems.

When should you change your number?

Update your number if you lost or blocked your old SIM and no longer receive OTPs, you want a new number for SRD messages and alerts, you changed networks and need to update your contact info, or your previous number was registered under someone else's name.

What you need before updating

Have ready your South African ID number (13 digits), your old number if it is still available, and your new phone number — which must be RICA-registered in your own name. You will also need an internet connection to reach the official SRD site.

How to change your SASSA SRD phone number online

This is done on the government portal; this site does not process the change.

1. Go to the official SASSA SRD website: srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status.
2. Enter your ID number and your old phone number.
3. Click the "Change Phone Number / Update Mobile" link.
4. Enter your new, currently active number.
5. Complete the OTP verification sent to the new number.
6. The system confirms once your number is updated.

If you don't receive the OTP

Check that your new SIM has signal and can receive SMS, restart your phone and retry after five minutes, ensure the number starts with 0 (e.g. 082 123 4567) or uses the +27 format, and try again during working hours when servers are less busy. If OTPs still fail, visit your nearest SASSA office for assistance.

Common errors and fixes

"Number Not Found" means your old number is not linked to your ID — try another registered number or contact SASSA support. "RICA Verification Failed" means the new SIM is not registered under your own ID; visit a network store to re-register it. "Too Many Attempts" means you should wait 24 hours before trying again, as the account may be temporarily locked after repeated OTP failures.

FAQs

Why your phone number is the key to your whole account

For the SRD grant, your registered mobile number is effectively your login. Every time you check your status, update banking details, or reapply, the portal sends a one-time PIN to that number to confirm it is really you. If you lose access to the number — a lost SIM, a switched network, or a number that was registered to someone else — you lose the ability to receive those PINs, and with them access to your own grant. That is why keeping your number current is not a minor detail but one of the most important things you can do to protect uninterrupted payments.

The RICA requirement explained

South African law requires every SIM card to be registered to a real person under the RICA regulations. SASSA relies on this, so the number you use for your grant must be RICA-registered in your own name. If you buy a new SIM, make sure it is registered under your ID before you try to use it for SRD — an unregistered or wrongly registered SIM will fail verification. If you are not sure whether a SIM is registered in your name, a quick visit to your network's store with your ID sorts it out, and it is worth doing before you attempt the change rather than after it fails.

Planning the change so you do not lock yourself out

The safest time to change your number is while you still have access to the old one, because some flows ask you to confirm via the old number first. If your old SIM still works, do the change before you discard it. If it is already lost, you can still change the number using your ID, but be prepared for extra verification steps. Either way, avoid making repeated rapid attempts if something fails — too many tries can temporarily lock the account for 24 hours, which delays you further. One careful attempt beats several rushed ones.