SRD R370 Checker
Am I eligible for the R370 Social Relief of Distress grant? Check the income threshold and rules.
Your cellphone number is the key to your entire SRD R370 application. It receives the one-time PIN you need to log in, check your status, change your banking details, and lodge an appeal. If you have lost that number or it is out of date, you can quickly lock yourself out. This guide explains why the number matters, how to change it on the portal, what to do when you no longer have the old number, and how to fix an OTP that simply will not arrive.
Why your cellphone number matters
Almost every important action on the SRD system is protected by a one-time PIN, or OTP, sent by SMS to the number on your application. That includes logging in to check your status, updating how you are paid, and confirming an appeal. If the number on file is one you no longer control, those OTPs go to a phone you cannot access, and you are effectively locked out.
This is why we mention keeping your number current in so many of our guides, including changing your SRD banking details, where the same OTP step is required, and appealing a declined SRD grant, which also depends on receiving the PIN. Getting your number right first makes everything else possible.
Tip: Before you change your banking details or lodge an appeal, make sure the cellphone number on file is one you actually have with you. It saves a lot of frustration.
The chain reaction of a wrong number
It is worth understanding just how much a stale number affects. Because a single phone number sits behind every OTP-protected action, one wrong number does not block just one task, it blocks all of them at once. You cannot check your status, you cannot fix your banking details, and you cannot lodge an appeal, because each of those needs a PIN you will never receive. That is why updating your number is almost always the very first thing to sort out when something stops working.
How to change your number on the portal
You update your cellphone number through the official SRD portal at srd.sassa.gov.za. This is the only safe place to do it. Never share your ID number or OTP with anyone who contacts you claiming to be from SASSA, and never pay a fee.
- Go to srd.sassa.gov.za and find the option to change your cellphone number, sometimes shown alongside your application details.
- Enter the ID number you applied with.
- Follow the prompts to enter your new cellphone number.
- SASSA will send an OTP to verify the change. Depending on the system, this may go to your existing number to confirm your identity, or to the new number to confirm you own it.
- Enter the OTP to complete the change.
Once done, use the new number for all future logins and checks. Our SRD R370 status check helper can then guide you through confirming your status with the updated number.
Before you switch SIMs or numbers
If you are planning to change your number, for example because you are moving to a new network, the easiest path is to update your SRD number while you still have access to the old SIM. That way, if the verification OTP goes to your existing number to confirm your identity, you can still receive it. Updating in this order turns a potentially difficult recovery into a simple two-minute change. If you have already lost access to the old number, read the next section.
If you no longer have access to the old number
This is the tricky case. If the verification OTP is sent to a number you have lost, you may not be able to complete the change online on your own. In that situation, contact SASSA directly on the toll-free line 0800 60 10 11, or use the WhatsApp line on 082 046 8553, and explain the situation. Our full SASSA contact details guide lists all the ways to reach them.
Be ready to prove who you are. SASSA will need to confirm your identity before moving your application to a new number, so have your ID number and personal details on hand, and be patient, because this manual route naturally takes longer than a self-service change on the portal.
Fixing OTP-not-received problems
If you have requested an OTP and it has not arrived, work through these steps.
- Wait a few minutes and request it again. Networks can be slow at busy times.
- Check your signal. Move to an area with better reception if the bars are low.
- Clear space in your inbox. A full message inbox can block new SMSs on some phones.
- Confirm the number is correct. A single wrong digit means the OTP goes elsewhere.
- Try at a quieter time. The portal and SMS systems can be congested during peak hours.
If the OTP still never arrives and you are sure the number is right, the issue may be with the network or the portal, so try again later or use the WhatsApp line. Persistent problems are worth reporting on the toll-free line.
Common OTP mistakes to avoid
A few habits cause OTP trouble that has nothing to do with SASSA. Requesting a new PIN repeatedly within seconds can invalidate the earlier ones, so you end up entering a code that is no longer the latest, wait for the newest SMS and use that one. Reading the digits carelessly is another, as a 0 and an O or a 1 and an I are easy to confuse when you are rushing. And leaving airplane mode on, or having a dual-SIM phone set to the wrong SIM for the number on file, quietly stops SMSs from arriving at all. Slowing down and checking these avoids most self-inflicted lockouts.
Keep your details working together
Your phone number, your banking details, and your approved status all need to line up for payments to run smoothly. Whenever you change your number, check afterwards that you can still log in and view your status, as explained in our guide on how to check your SRD status online. And if you are keeping your application active month to month, our guide on reapplying and reconfirming your SRD R370 grant shows how the pieces fit together.
A safe order of operations
When several things need fixing at once, the order matters. Sort out your phone number first, because without a working OTP you cannot do anything else. Next, confirm you can log in and see your status. Then, if needed, update your banking details, which again relies on the OTP now going to a phone you hold. Finally, handle any appeal or reconfirmation. Following this sequence means each step has the working OTP it depends on, rather than stalling halfway through because the PIN went to a phone you no longer have.
Protecting your number from SIM-swap scams
Because your cellphone number controls access to your grant, it is worth protecting the number itself. SIM-swap fraud, where a criminal tricks your network into moving your number to their SIM, can hand them your OTPs. Guard against it by never sharing your OTP or personal details with unexpected callers, by contacting your network immediately if your phone suddenly loses signal for no reason, and by treating any message asking you to "verify" your SIM or number with suspicion. SASSA will never ask you to read out an OTP, so anyone who does is a scammer regardless of what they claim.
We are an independent information site and are not affiliated with SASSA. Always verify important steps at sassa.gov.za or by phoning 0800 60 10 11.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I change my SASSA SRD phone number?
Only on the official portal at srd.sassa.gov.za. Log in with the ID number you applied with, enter your new cellphone number, and confirm the change with the OTP. Never change it through a third-party site or share your OTP with anyone.
I lost the phone with my old number. How do I update it?
If the verification OTP goes to a number you no longer have, you may not be able to finish online alone. Contact SASSA on the toll-free line 0800 60 10 11 or the WhatsApp line 082 046 8553 and explain your situation, and be ready to confirm your identity.
The OTP is not arriving. What can I do?
Wait a few minutes and request it again, check your signal, clear space in your message inbox, and confirm the number has no wrong digits. If it still fails, try again at a quieter time or use the WhatsApp line.
Can I use a family member's phone number for my SRD application?
It is far better to use a number you personally control, because every OTP for your application will go to that phone. If you rely on someone else's number and later lose access to it, or they change it, you can be locked out of your own grant. Use your own number wherever possible.
Will changing my phone number affect my status or payments?
No. Updating your number does not change your eligibility, your status, or your payment schedule. It simply changes where the OTP is sent so you can keep managing your application. Once updated, check that you can log in and view your status to confirm everything still works.
How often can I change my SRD phone number?
There is no fixed limit for genuine changes, but you should only change it when you actually need to, such as switching networks or losing a phone. Changing it needlessly adds OTP steps and, if done carelessly while you lack access to the old number, can complicate your access. Update it deliberately, and always while you still hold the old SIM if you can.