You can change the cellphone number on your SRD R370 grant online at srd.sassa.gov.za, using the Change your mobile number option. You enter your ID number, pick the reason for the change, confirm how you get paid, type the new number and approve the one-time PIN (OTP) that SASSA sends to it. SASSA may then ask for a quick face scan before the new number is accepted. The new SIM card must be RICA’d in your own name.
| Quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Where to do it | srd.sassa.gov.za, then Change your mobile number (type the address in yourself) |
| What you need | Your SA ID number, a new number RICA’d in your name, and the phone with that SIM in your hand |
| Payment check | Last 4 digits of your bank account, or the bank you collect cash send from |
| Extra check | A selfie face scan (eKYC) if SASSA sends you a verification link |
| Cost | Free. SASSA does not charge to update your details |
| If it fails online | SASSA call centre 0800 60 10 11 or your nearest SASSA office with your ID |
| Number taken by someone else | Report it on 0800 60 10 11 straight away and ask for a reference number |
On this page: Step by step · What you need · Face scan · Which route fits you · Lost phone · Application ID · WhatsApp · Number hijacked · After the change · FAQ
SRD change cellphone number online: step by step
Most people searching for an SRD change cellphone number online want it sorted in one sitting, and that is usually possible if the new SIM is already in your phone. Here is the order the screens come in on the official SRD website:
- Open srd.sassa.gov.za in your phone’s browser. Type the address yourself rather than tapping a link from a Facebook post or a forwarded message.
- Scroll down to the section about changing your mobile number and tap the button. The page you land on ends in /sc19/mobile-number-update.
- Enter your 13-digit South African ID number, the same one you applied with.
- Choose the reason that fits you: you lost your phone, you used someone else’s phone to apply, you have a new phone number, or you typed the wrong number when you applied.
- Confirm how you are paid. If the grant goes into a bank account, you type the last four digits of that account. If you collect through cash send, you pick the bank that pays you.
- Type your new cellphone number and submit the form.
- SASSA sends a one-time PIN by SMS to the new number. Type it in to confirm the number really belongs to you.
- If you get an SMS with a verification link, open it and complete the face scan (explained below).
- Wait for the confirmation message, then use your ID number and new number the next time you check your status.
If the OTP never arrives, check that the SIM has airtime or is at least active, restart the phone and request the PIN again. Network delays are common at month-end when millions of people use the site at once, so trying early in the morning often works better.
What you need before you start
Have these ready before you open the SRD change cellphone number online form, so the session does not time out halfway:
- Your ID number. The form works with your ID number. You do not need your old phone or your old SIM.
- A SIM registered (RICA’d) in your own name. SASSA matches the number to your identity, so a number registered to your mother, partner or friend will cause problems.
- The phone with the new SIM in it. The OTP goes to the new number, not the old one.
- Your payment details. The last four digits of your bank account, or the name of the bank if you are paid through cash send.
- A phone with a working front camera, in case SASSA asks for the face scan.
Shared numbers are a real issue. In a written reply to Parliament, the Department of Social Development explained that cellphone numbers linked to more than one applicant are treated as a fraud risk and can stop payments, and that identity checks must be done by the beneficiary in person. Source: Parliamentary Monitoring Group, question NW4863. Having the SRD change cellphone number online point to a SIM in your own name avoids that flag.
The face scan (eKYC): why SASSA asks for it
After an SRD change cellphone number online, many people get an SMS with a link asking them to verify their identity with a selfie. SASSA calls this eKYC. It was added because fraudsters were changing other people’s numbers and taking their grants. Until the check is done, the grant can stay on hold, even if your status was approved before.
SASSA went further in 2025. From 1 September 2025 it started using biometric checks, including face scanning, for new applications and for changes to contact details such as your cellphone number. Source: EWN, 26 August 2025.
To get the selfie accepted on the first try:
- Stand facing a window or a bright light, not with the light behind you.
- Take off your hat, cap and glasses, and keep your hair away from your face.
- Use a plain wall as the background and hold the phone at eye level.
- Only your face should be in the picture. Someone else cannot do it for you.
- If it fails twice, stop and visit a SASSA office with your green ID book or smart ID card. Repeated failed attempts do not speed anything up.
Which route fits your situation?
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You lost the phone but still want the same number | Do a SIM swap at your network store with your ID. Your number stays the same, so nothing changes at SASSA. |
| You have a new number in your own name | Use the online form on srd.sassa.gov.za and pick “new phone number”. |
| You applied with a family member’s or friend’s phone | Get your own SIM, RICA it in your name, then use the online form and choose the “used someone else’s phone” reason. |
| You typed the wrong number when applying | Use the online form and choose the “captured the wrong number” reason. |
| The online form or face scan keeps failing | Call 0800 60 10 11 or go to a SASSA office with your ID. |
| Someone changed your number without asking you | Treat it as fraud. Call SASSA immediately (see the fraud section below). |
Lost your phone or SIM card?
Start with your network, not with SASSA. If the number is still registered to you, a SIM swap at a Vodacom, MTN, Cell C or Telkom store gets the same number onto a new SIM, usually on the same day. You keep your number, your SMSes from SASSA keep arriving, and there is nothing to update on the SRD side.
Only use the SRD change cellphone number online form once the old number is gone for good, for example when the SIM was never in your name, or it was cancelled after months of not being used. In that case, buy a new SIM, RICA it with your own ID, and choose “lost phone” as the reason on the form.
Lost your phone and forgot your application details? That is fine. The online form asks for your ID number, so you can still change the number without the old SIM or any reference number.
Changing the number with your application ID
A lot of people search for a way to change the SRD number “with application ID”. The current form on the official site asks for your ID number, not an application ID. When you applied, the ID number you entered became the key to your SRD record, so that is what SASSA uses to find you.
Keep any SMS that SASSA sent you when you applied. If you end up calling the call centre or visiting an office, a reference number or the date you applied helps the official find your record faster.
Can you change your SRD number on WhatsApp?
Some websites say you can change your number through a SASSA WhatsApp menu and give a phone number for it. We could not confirm that option on any official SASSA page, so we are not listing a WhatsApp number here. The routes SASSA itself points to are the SRD website, the call centre on 0800 60 10 11 and SASSA offices. If a WhatsApp contact asks for your ID number, PIN or OTP, do not send it.
Does changing my number at the bank update SASSA?
No. Updating your cellphone number on your banking app or at the branch only changes it for the bank. SASSA keeps its own record, so you still need to do the change on the SRD website. Changing your banking details is a separate process on the same site, explained in our SRD banking details guide.
If someone changed your number without your permission
This has happened to many people. In 2024 GroundUp reported on SRD recipients who found their grants blocked after fraudsters put their own numbers on other people’s applications. Source: GroundUp, January 2024. Signs to watch for: you stop getting SASSA SMSes, your status shows a number you don’t recognise, or the money goes to an account that isn’t yours.
- Call SASSA on 0800 60 10 11 and report that your number was changed without your consent. Ask for a reference number and write it down.
- Visit a SASSA office with your ID so they can confirm who you are in person.
- If your bank details were also changed, tell SASSA that too, and contact your bank.
- If you need help getting SASSA to respond, Black Sash runs a helpline on 072 663 3739.
- Never share an OTP with anyone. A real SASSA official will not ask for it.
After the change: status checks and payments
Once your SRD change cellphone number online is approved, use your ID number and the new number to check your status on the official site. Our SRD status check guide explains what each status means.
- For a short while your status may show pending or ask for verification. That usually means the face check or the number check is still running.
- Payments carry on once your identity is confirmed. See the SRD payment dates for how the monthly window works.
- If a month is declined while your details were being checked, you can lodge an SRD appeal and then follow it with the appeal status check.
- Not sure which SASSA website does what? Our list of official SASSA websites and portals sorts them out.
Mistakes that slow the change down
Most failed attempts at an SRD change cellphone number online come down to one of these:
- Using a SIM that is RICA’d in someone else’s name.
- Entering the new number with a typo, or with +27 when the form expects 0 at the start.
- Doing the change on a copycat site. Real SASSA addresses always end in .gov.za.
- Changing the number several times in a few weeks. Each change can trigger a fresh check.
- Paying someone at a shop or online to “fix” the number for you. It is free, and handing over your ID and OTP puts your grant at risk.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a link to change my SRD phone number?
Yes. On srd.sassa.gov.za there is a “Change your mobile number” section. The form sits at srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/mobile-number-update. Type the main address yourself rather than tapping links from social media.
Does an SRD change cellphone number online cost anything?
No. Changing your number on the SRD website is free. Anyone who asks for money to do it is not from SASSA.
How long does the change take?
SASSA does not publish a fixed turnaround time. If the OTP and face scan go through, the change is often confirmed quickly, but checks can take several days. Check your status again after a few days.
Can I use a number registered in my partner’s or parent’s name?
It is not a good idea. SASSA checks that the number belongs to you, and numbers shared with other people can be flagged and hold up your payment.
Will I lose my grant if I change my number?
No. You keep your application. Payments may pause while SASSA verifies the new number and your identity, then continue.
Do I have to reapply after changing my number?
No. Changing your number updates your existing application. You do not start again.
Can I change my SRD number at a SASSA office?
Yes. If the online route does not work, take your ID to a SASSA office and ask them to update your contact number.
About this guide
Written and checked by N Chris, for SASSA Status Check Help. This guide was checked against the official SRD website, a written reply to Parliament, and reporting by EWN and GroundUp. We are not SASSA and never ask for your ID number, PIN or bank details. Read how we verify information.