How to Change SRD Phone Number Without Application ID?

If your phone number has changed or your SIM card is lost, you can update the number on your SASSA SRD R370 grant online.

Go to the official portal at https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/mobile-number-update, click “SA ID number” and type in your 13-digit South African ID number. Choose the reason for the change from the dropdown, then verify your identity using the last 4 digits of your bank account and, when SASSA asks for it, a quick face scan. Enter your new phone number and confirm it with the OTP that is sent to that new number by SMS.

That is the whole process.

SASSA only lets you submit one contact update request every 24 hours, and the change usually reflects within a few days, sometimes up to two weeks after the verification checks are done.

The rest of this guide explains each step, what to do if you do not have your Application ID, and how to change your number if you can no longer receive the OTP.

Why You Need to Keep Your Number Updated

At the time of grant application, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) communicates with you through the contact number you provided. If that number is no longer valid, you can miss important notifications about your SRD status and your payment date.

So if your phone number has changed, or you have lost your SIM card, it is important to update it as soon as possible. Otherwise you will not know when your grant is ready to collect, and OTP steps for things like appeals will stop working for you.

How to Change Your SASSA SRD Phone Number Online

The online portal is the main and fastest way to change your number. Follow these steps.

Open the official page at https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/mobile-number-update. Always type the address yourself so you do not land on a fake site.
Click “SA ID number” and enter your 13-digit South African ID number.
Choose the reason for the change from the dropdown. The options are: new phone, captured wrong number, used third-party phone, and lost phone.
Select your payment option. If you chose bank account, you will be asked for the last 4 digits of that account. If you chose Cash Send, pick the bank or store you use.
Complete the identity verification step if SASSA asks for it. This is usually a face scan (explained below).
Enter your new South African mobile number. It must start with 0 and be 10 digits long.
SASSA sends a One-Time PIN (OTP) to your new number by SMS. Enter the OTP and submit.
A confirmation message appears once the number is accepted.

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Remember that you can only submit one contact update request in any 24-hour period, so make sure your details are correct before you submit.

Identity Verification and the Face Scan

This is the part most old guides leave out. Since 1 September 2025, SASSA has made biometric face verification a mandatory step when you update grant details, and the rules were tightened again in 2026. It is there to stop fraudsters from hijacking your grant.

SASSA decides case by case whether to trigger the face scan on your specific request. When it does, you will get an SMS with a one-time link that opens a browser-based scan. To pass it easily:

Use a phone with a working front camera.
Sit in good lighting with a plain background.
Look straight at the camera and keep still while it scans.
Allow camera access when the browser asks.

If the scan keeps failing, or your photo on the Home Affairs system is outdated, you may need to visit a SASSA office so staff can capture your details in person.

Change Your Phone Number Without Your Application ID

You do not always need your Application ID to change your number. The mobile number update page verifies you with your ID number, your bank details, and the face scan, so you can complete it without the AppID.

If you are using the older contact page at https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/contact, that route does ask for your 6-digit Application ID along with your 13-digit ID number. If you have your AppID, that page works fine too. If you have lost it, you can recover it first.

How to Recover Your Lost Application ID

Your Application ID is the 6-digit code SASSA gave you when you applied or reapplied. If you have misplaced it, you can find it again using our SASSA status check tool.

Go to https://sassa-status.web.za/.
Scroll down to the SASSA Status Check option and tap “Click here to check online”.
Enter your 13-digit South African ID number.
Enter the old phone number your grant was approved on.
Your Application ID appears on the first line of the results. Write it down.

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Once you have it, you can use it on the SASSA contact page if you prefer that route.

What to Do If You Lost Your Phone or SIM

If you still own the number but only changed handsets, the easiest fix is a SIM swap with your network (Vodacom, MTN, Cell C or Telkom). A SIM swap brings your original number back on the new SIM, and you do not need to change anything on SASSA at all.

If the number itself is gone, pick “lost phone” as your reason on the update form. Because there is no old number to send an OTP to, SASSA relies more on the face scan to confirm you. If you cannot pass the scan, take your ID to a SASSA office and ask them to update the number in person.

If You Cannot Update Online

If you have no internet access, or you keep getting blocked during verification, use one of the official support routes below. These do not change the number instantly on their own, but they let SASSA assist you or escalate your case.

Call the SASSA toll-free line on 0800 60 10 11 (or 012 400 2322), Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:00. Have your ID number and your old and new phone numbers ready.
Email GrantsEnquiries@sassa.gov.za if you want a written record. Include your full name, ID number, grant type and your request. Email replies can take a couple of weeks.
Visit your nearest SASSA office with your ID. Staff can update your number and complete the in-person biometric capture for you.

How Long the Change Takes

After you submit, SASSA runs a risk and verification check before the new number goes live. This usually takes a few days, and in some cases up to about two weeks. Once it is done, all future SMS notifications, including your payment updates, go to your new number.

Stay Safe From Scams

Updating your SASSA number is completely free. Keep these points in mind:

SASSA never charges a fee to update your details. Anyone asking for a “processing fee” is scamming you.
Never share your OTP, PIN or ID number with anyone who contacts you.
Only use official links on srd.sassa.gov.za. Ignore lookalike sites and WhatsApp messages claiming to update your grant.

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If Someone Changed Your Number Without Permission

If OTPs suddenly stop arriving on your number, or you get an SMS about a change you did not request, someone may have submitted a phone change against your ID. Act quickly:

Call SASSA on 0800 60 10 11 and report a suspected unauthorised number change.
Open an identity theft case with SAPS and keep the case number.
Contact your bank and network in case a SIM swap was linked to it.
After the number is fixed, check that your banking details were not changed too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my number by email or phone call? The number change itself is done online through the SASSA portal with identity verification. The call centre and email are for help and escalation, not an instant change. If you cannot use the website, the call centre can guide or escalate your case.

Do I need my Application ID to change my number? Not always. The mobile number update page verifies you with your ID number, bank details and a face scan. The older contact page does ask for your 6-digit Application ID.

Is there a deadline to update my number? There is no fixed deadline, but you should do it as soon as your number changes so you do not miss payment notifications.

Can I use someone else’s number? No. You must own the number you use, because SASSA needs to reach you directly on it.

Can I update my email too? Yes. The same contact page lets you update your email address along with your cellphone number.

Final Word

Keeping your contact number up to date is the simplest way to avoid missed notifications and payment delays on your SRD grant. Whether you do it online, at a SASSA office, or after a quick SIM swap, update it as soon as your number changes so SASSA can always reach you.