How to Change Your SRD Phone Number
Change the phone number on your SRD application only on the official portal at srd.sassa.gov.za. You enter your ID, verify your identity, enter the new number, and confirm a one-time PIN sent to it. The new number must be active and in your own name, and once accepted it becomes the only number SASSA uses for status checks, verification links and payment messages.
Change your phone number
Opens the official SASSA portal. Have the new number with you — it receives the OTP.
Why does the registered number matter so much?
Everything SASSA sends goes to it: the one-time PIN for any change, the identity-verification link, and notices about your months. Status checks by SMS and on the portal only work with the number on record. Losing access to it is the most common reason people cannot update banking details or complete verification.
How do I change the number?
- Open the official page:https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/mobile-number-update. Select your ID type and enter your 13-digit ID number.
- Verify your identity. A new number is only accepted after identity verification, which may include the facial (eKYC) check — see identity verification.
- Enter the new number. It must be active, registered in your own name, and not a number SASSA has previously flagged or blocked.
- Confirm the one-time PIN sent by SMS to the new number.
- Submit. Once processed, the new number replaces the old one everywhere.
Application ID
Some update routes ask for your application ID (AppID). If you do not have it, use the route that verifies by ID number and OTP instead — one successful update on the page that matches your situation is all that is needed.
Why is SASSA telling me to change my number?
If SASSA's fraud checks find a risk with your registered number — for example, it is linked to other people's applications, or shows signs of a SIM swap — you are instructed to change it. The old number cannot be reused; you must provide a new one and verify it by OTP. Payments on affected months resume after the change is accepted. Do this only on the official page above, never through a link someone sends you.
How long does the change take to reflect?
The update is processed inside SASSA's SRD system after you submit; the new number is usually active for status checks within a few days. Any verification link or OTP sent after that goes to the new number. If you also need to change banking details, do the phone number first — the banking OTP goes to the registered number.
What if the update does not work?
- Check the new number is active, in your name, and can receive SMS.
- Retry outside peak times — the portal is busiest at the start of the month and on payment days.
- If identity verification fails, resolve that first on the verification page.
- Still stuck: call 0800 60 10 11 (Monday to Friday, 08:00–16:00) with your ID, or visit a SASSA office with your ID and the new phone.
Common questions
I lost the phone I applied with. Can I still change the number?
Yes. The change page verifies you by ID and identity check, then sends the OTP to the new number, so you do not need the old phone.
Can I use a family member's number?
No. The number must be registered in your own name. SASSA also blocks numbers linked to several applications.
Can I change my number by WhatsApp or at an office?
The change is made on the portal. An office can help if the online route fails, but bring your ID and the new phone.
Sources: srd.sassa.gov.za mobile-number update pages. Last verified August 2026.
Reviewed by Secure The Grant editorial team against official SASSA sources on . How we check our facts