The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant is one of the support programs managed by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). It is designed to help individuals and families facing financial hardship. Over 18 million South Africans receive various SASSA grants, including the SRD Grant.
If your phone was stolen, lost, or you changed SIM cards, you may not receive important messages or payment updates from SASSA. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to change your cellphone number or email address for the SRD Grant, even if you don’t have your application ID.
Why You Should Update Your SASSA SRD Contact Details
SASSA uses your cellphone number and email address to communicate payment information, application updates, and verification messages. If your contact details are outdated, you might miss critical updates or even delay your payments.
Common reasons for changing your SRD cellphone number include:
- You’ve switched to a new network provider (for example, from MTN to Vodacom or Telkom).
- Your SIM card has been lost, damaged, or stolen.
- You used someone else’s cellphone number during your SRD application and no longer have access to it.
- You’ve changed your personal contact details for security reasons.
Updating your information ensures you continue receiving SMS notifications, OTPs (One-Time Pins), and payment alerts from SASSA.
How to Change Your Cellphone Number for the SRD Grant
You can change your SASSA SRD cellphone number online by following these steps:
- Go to the official SASSA SRD Contact Details page.
- Enter your South African ID number (without spaces).
- Type in your Application ID (AppID).
- Click “Submit.”
- Enter your new cellphone number and email address.
- Click “Submit” again.
- Select the reason for your number change, such as:
- Cellphone lost or stolen
- Used someone else’s phone during the application
- No longer have access to the old number
- You’ll receive an OTP (One-Time Password) on your new cellphone. Enter it in the verification field.
- Click “Submit” to confirm the update.
Once done, your new cellphone number will be linked to your SASSA SRD Grant profile.
How to Change Your SRD Cellphone Number Without an Application ID
If you’ve misplaced your Application ID, you can retrieve it in a few simple steps:
- Visit the SASSA SRD Status Check page.
- Enter your ID number (no spaces).
- Input the old cellphone number you used when applying for the grant.
- Your Application ID will appear in the first line of your status results.
Once you have your AppID, you can proceed to update your cellphone number using the earlier steps.
Important Information About Updating Your SASSA SRD Contact Details
- RICA verification: If you receive your SRD payments via a cardless withdrawal at an ATM, your cellphone number must be RICA-registered. Without this, you won’t be able to receive the withdrawal PIN sent by SASSA.
- Bank payments: If you receive your SRD Grant through your bank account, make sure the account is in your name. SASSA does not transfer grants into someone else’s bank account.
- Call centre assistance: You can also update your contact details by calling the SASSA Call Centre at 0800 60 10 11. Be prepared for a long wait time during busy hours.
- Update limit: You can only submit one contact update request every 24 hours.
Keeping your SRD Grant contact details updated is the best way to ensure you don’t miss payment notifications or status updates. Whether you’ve lost your SIM, changed your network, or no longer have access to your old number, you can update everything online through the official SASSA SRD portal in just a few minutes.
