SASSA Change Phone Number: Quick Guide 2025
The feeling that you have lost your cellphone number can be disastrous when you depend on SASSA grant. You may have assumed that it will not be a big deal to change sim later to discover that you could no longer get SASSA updates. The mere thing is, your cellphone number is your life with SASSA. In its absence, you may not pass identity checks, receive payment alerts, and that is worse than all, you may leave your grant payment information to a different person.
The positive aspect is that it has a safe and official option of fixing this. With the help of a SASSA change phone number process, you have an opportunity to renew your details with the help of a biometric system. SASSA has started verifying your identity using your face before it changes your number.
Then, when you lost your phone, changed networks or need a new start this guide will help you realize how to do it step by step.
Why Should You update Your Contact Details?
Your cellphone number is not only a convenient thing to have, but also your primary contact to SASSA. Without it:
In a nutshell, you must update your cell phone number in case you are serious about ensuring that your grant continues to flow.
How to Change SRD Phone Number Online
Changing your number online is now the best thing to do. However, this time, SASSA has introduced a new feature, biometric verification.
New Biometric Verification System
SASSA has also introduced a facial recognition to verify that it is indeed you before changing your number. As soon as you order a change of number, you will be sent an SMS with a special link. That connection takes you to a page on which you are invited to take a live selfie.
The given selfie is then matched against the Home Affairs database. In case the system matches a match, your change of number is authorized. Otherwise, it will not, and you will have to make another attempt or go to an office.
What You Need Before Making Changes
Before beginning you will have gotten:
In the absence of these, you can not go through with it.
Do we Need Application ID to Change SRD Phone Number?
Many people are caught up by this question. The short answer: not always. When you can authenticate yourself with your biometers, you do not need your application identity. Your face and ID are directly matched in the system.
However, when you fail to go through the biometric process, or when the system fails to identify your face, you might be required to provide additional information, such as your application ID, to verify your account.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Access the Portal
In order to update your mobile number, open your browser and visit https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/mobile-number-update. Ensure that you are on the official SASSA site- scammers develop sites that appear to be SASSA.
Step 2: Enter Your Details
You are going to see a form that requires your ID number. Type in all 13 digits carefully. Before proceeding, be sure that they are correct. Then you will choose why you are changing your number as a drop down menu:
Select the alternative that suits your case. This assists SASSA to monitor prevalent problems and enhance their system.
Step 3: Identity verification Popup
A popup box would be displayed demanding your identity. When you are ready, click “Verify Identity. The system will demand access to cameras. This you must permit And so the process may continue.
Step 4: Liveness Preparation
Follow instructions on this screen. Take off glasses, hats, scarves or anything that covers your face. Braids back long hair when it falls over your facial features. Get yourself a good light- natural is best, but a light room is sufficient.
The taboos are also important: one should not speak during the scan, move, and experiment with this under low light. Keep your phone or sit at your computer and ensure that your whole face is in the frame. When you are prepared, hit the button at the bottom, Let’s begin.
Step 5: Face Scan
On your screen is an oval shape. Plug your face in that oval. The screen will flash–that is all right, pull yourself together. The system is scanning 3 or more angles and verifying liveness. Pose, stare straight at the camera.
This usually takes 5-10 seconds. Should it go wrong; you will have another opportunity. The majority of failures occur due to motion or darkness. It is time to do better.
Step 6: DHA Verification
The system will also automatically cross your scan against Department of Home Affairs records. This is something you can not see happen, but it is happening behind the scene. Provided that your ID picture is up to date, and your face can be read, this step does not take too long.
Step 7: Enter New Number
Success! You will be redirected to a site which demands your new mobile number. Write it down–this is what SASSA will do in the future. You will be instantly sent an OTP on that new number.
Check messaging and type in OTP code as it is. Hit submit, and you’re done. The SASSA system has been updated with your phone number successfully.
What Happens After You Submit?
The SASSA updates their system in a few minutes, but occasionally it may take as long as 24 hours when traffic is high. You are supposed to get a confirmation SMS on your new number of the change. Keep this message as proof.
Your new number will be the place where you receive your next grant payment notification. You can notice the difference in case you have a payment that is about to occur in the near future. Any further communication to SASSA will be sent to your new address, such as payment dates, confirmation of verification, etc.
What to Do When Verification Fails
Failure in verification is not the last end. It usually happens when:
In case of that, repeat it with improved light and steady hand. Still failing? The next thing is to call the helpline or to visit your closest SASSA office.
Updating Numbers for Other Grants
The SRD R370 grant has a system of its own but what about other SASSA grants? The procedure is a little bit different.
In the case of grants such as Old Age Pension, Disability Grant, Child Support Grant, Foster Child Grant, Care Dependency Grant or Grant-in-Aid, you take a different route. These grants do not involve the use of SRD portal. Rather, you might be requested to verify information by visiting an office.
Offline Methods
If you can’t change your number online, you’re not out of options.
Call SASSA Helpline
Dial 0800 60 10 11. You’ll need to provide your ID number and personal details. The agent may also schedule you for biometric verification if required.
Visit Nearest Office
For many, the most reliable option is still walking into a SASSA office with your green barcoded ID or Smart ID card. Staff will guide you through the process and confirm the update manually.
Conclusion
The shift to biometrics has made the SASSA change phone number process more secure, but it also means you’ll need patience (and a decent smartphone) to get it done. Losing your number doesn’t mean losing your grant—it just means you have one extra hoop to jump through.
And now, as you have been putting this off, do not wait till there is payment day madness. Get your information up to date, and have your grant safe, and you will not have to worry about it in the future. And, after all, is a single definite selfie such a big sacrifice to be able to feel at peace?
