SRD Status Referred: What It Means and How to Clear It

By , Content Writer Published Updated

Referred means SASSA has paused that month to run an extra identity or fraud check before paying. It is not a decline, and it cannot be resolved by reapplying or by phone. Complete the SMS verification link SASSA sends; if none arrives within a few days, or you cannot verify online, visit a SASSA office with your ID.

Card headed "Referred", beside a phone showing a grant status of Referred, sent to another department or verifier for further review.

Is referred the same as declined?

No. A declined month has failed a check and shows a reason. A referred month has been set aside for a person or a further system to look at, usually your identity. Nothing has been decided. If the check passes, the month moves to Approved and is paid; if it fails, it moves to Declined and can then be appealed.

Why does a month get referred?

Identity check
Your details did not match Home Affairs cleanly, or SASSA wants a facial (eKYC) verification before paying. The most common cause.
Fraud screening
Something about the application — a phone number, a bank account, a pattern of activity — triggered a fraud-prevention review, sometimes because your identity has been misused by someone else.
Changed details
A recent change to your phone number or banking details can send the next month for re-verification.

How do I clear a referred status?

  1. Watch for two SMS messages from SASSA to the number on your application. The second contains a verification link. It is personal to you and valid for a limited time, usually 72 hours.
  2. Open the link on a phone with a camera and data, and complete the facial verification exactly as prompted.
  3. No link after a few days? Request verification on the official verification page, or call 0800 60 10 11 (Monday to Friday, 08:00–16:00) and ask what the referral needs.
  4. Cannot verify online? If you have no smartphone or the link never arrives, go to a SASSA office with your ID. This is the only situation where an office visit is needed.

How long does it take, and will I be paid for the paused months?

After a successful verification, the result reflects in anywhere from 48 hours to 21 working days. Months that were referred and then approved are paid; the payment date appears once the batch is scheduled. Months that end as Declined are not paid unless you appeal them within 90 days.

What should I not do?

  • Do not reapply — it does not clear a referral and can create a duplicate
  • Do not click verification links from any number or site other than SASSA's
  • Do not pay anyone offering to "remove" a referred status; nobody can
  • Do not give your ID number, PIN or SMS codes to anyone who calls you

Common questions

Do I have to go to a SASSA office?

Only if you cannot verify online — no smartphone, or no verification link arrives. Otherwise the SMS link is enough.

I have been referred for months. What now?

Request verification on the official verification page, then call the toll-free line and ask specifically what the referral is waiting for. If that fails, visit an office with your ID.

My referred month became declined. Is that final?

No. Lodge a reconsideration for that month within 90 days on the official appeals page.

Sources: srd.sassa.gov.za; SASSA identity verification (eKYC) process. Last verified August 2026.

Reviewed by Secure The Grant editorial team against official SASSA sources on . How we check our facts