How to Change SRD Phone Number? (2 Ways) 2025

With the introduction of the new biometric facial verification system for Social Relief Distress (SRD) R370 grants, all beneficiaries must confirm their identity to change their cellphone number.

To update your phone number, you can either visit the SRD Contact Update webpage or call the SASSA hotline at 0800 601 011. After providing your South African ID Card Number and Application ID and completing the facial verification, your phone number will be updated. This article will give you a detailed overview of how to change your SRD phone number, so stay tuned until the end.

Table of Contents

1 How to Change Your SRD Phone Number?

2 How To Complete Biometric Process?

3 Why Updating Your SRD Phone Number is Important?

4 Duration for Phone Number Update:

5 How to Check If SRD Phone Number is Updated?

6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to Change Your SRD Phone Number?

These are the two methods you can use to update your phone number for SASSA applications:

Method 1: Change Phone Number Via the Website

For the first method, you’ll need your South African ID Card Number and Application ID. So, make sure you have them and then follow this process:

Open the SASSA Contact Update Web Portal.
Enter your 13-digit South African ID Card Number and 6-digit Application ID.
Navigate and click on the ‘Change Phone Number’ option.
Provide your New Mobile Number.
Type the OTP sent to your new contact number.
Click on the ‘Submit’ option to save updates.
Open the SMS link sent to your new phone number for facial verification.
Give Cellphone number, ID number, Full Name, Surname Details.
Tap on ‘Verify Your Identity’ button, and take a clear photo of your face on the portal link, and tap on Save.

After this, you’ll receive an SMS mentioning whether your facial verification was successful or not, and then your phone number will be updated. If you do not receive the verification SMS right away, you’ll need to contact SASSA for that individually.

Method 2: Change Mobile Number Via Cell Phone

The second method is about contacting SASSA on their call center and request an update. Luckily, beneficiaries will not get charged for this call, as the number is toll-free. Here’s how to do it:

Dial the SASSA Call Center at 0800601011.
Choose the option to speak with the SASSA representative.
Request the representative to help you Change Your Phone Number.
Give your 13-digit South African ID Card Number and 6-digit Application ID for identity verification.
Provide your New Number that you want to register for SRD grants.
Open the SMS link sent to your new number and verify your identity using the facial recognition biometric process.

Once the verification is completed, your phone number will be updated.

How To Complete Biometric Process?

According to SASSA’s new policy as of 2024, all beneficiaries who want to change their number for Social Relief Distress R370 grants must undergo a biometric verification process. This system is introduced to ensure that the grant amount is given to deserving individuals and to stop identity fraud and scams.

People who are already getting the R350 grant, must also do this biometric verification; otherwise, their payment will be withheld. So, it’s a necessary step anyway. Once you receive the verification link through any of the aforementioned methods, follow these steps to complete the biometric process:

Open the link sent to your new number.
Enter Cellphone number, ID number, Full Name, Surname.
Click on the ‘Verify Your Identity’ button and take a clear photo of your face.
Tap on ‘Submit’ option.

These are some tips to make your biometric verification successful:

Open the link through your registered cell phone or a computer with good quality camera.
Keep a good lightening and empty background during clicking your photo.
The verification link is a special link only designed for you, so don’t share it with others.
Use the link within 3 days (or 72 hours) after this period it will expire.
You only have five attempts with this link, so use them carefully.
The verification link will take you to an internet page. Make sure you have internet on your mobile to do this biometric verification.
Follow the instruction given to you on the facial verification portal (i.e., Look Up)
Keep your face and eyes on the screen.

A notification will be displayed or an SMS will be sent to you sharing your verification status. If the procedure fails, you’ll have to buy a SRD Smart Card and verify your identity through the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

Why Updating Your SRD Phone Number is Important?

To the beneficiaries of SASSA, their registered phone number is the only way to access the SRD web portal, receive grant amounts, and change details like payment method and Identity details. In addition to that, the new applicants can only apply for SRD R370 application through their cellphone number. Here are three main risks for not changing your cellphone details:

1. Application Rejection

As per Gazette Notice, the applicants who don’t contact SASSA for contact detail updates within 90 days of notification will have their applications cancelled. However, if you have lost your SRD phone number before your application is approved, you’ll have to update it through reconfirmation.

2. Long Waiting Period

Providing your correct contact details is crucial for a quick approval of your application. Since SASSA will send grant details and updates about your SRD R370 application via SMS, not having your current phone number could result in delay and long pending statu s.

3. Relief Amount Lost

People who have access to your phone number and ID card can enter your SRD account and alter the information. They can even receive your grant amount through Pick n Pay or an ATM, leading you to lose your amount.

Duration for Phone Number Update:

Generally, it takes 14 days to update contact details. However, with the new biometric system, your cellphone number will be updated automatically after your facial verification is done. Beneficiaries will be notified about it via SMS or through the same portal where they completed the biometric procedure.

How to Check If SRD Phone Number is Updated?

To further confirm that your phone number has truly changed, you can follow these steps below:

Go to the SRD website.
Scroll down to the South African ID Holders tab and select ‘Click Here to Proceed’.
Hover to the top right corner, click on Menu Bar, and select the ‘Grant Application’ option.
Enter your SRD linked Phone Number, then click on ‘Send SMS’
Type the OTP received on your phone number and tap on ‘Verify Pin’
Review your SRD account details including your changed cellphone number.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How to Get an Application ID?

Application ID is a 6-digit code that you can get by going to the SRD Grant Application page and entering and verifying your phone number.

2. How to Report Unauthorized Change of My Cell Number for SASSA Application?

You can easily report any phone number change done without your permission by visiting SASSA Report Portal, typing your ID number, and tapping on ‘Submit’.

3. What To Do If My SRD Application is Declined Due to Wrong Contact Details?

If your R370 application has been decline d due to wrong contact details, you can lodge an appeal by going to the DSD website and filling out your details there.

4. Can I Reconfirm My SASSA Contact Details?

Yes, you can reconfirm your application to ensure there were no errors or mistakes after submission. This help your SRD application to get a quick approval.