HOW-TO

How to Change Your SASSA Banking Details or Phone Number

Moving your SRD payment to a new account, or updating the cellphone number on your file — done the official, safe way so you don’t miss a payment.

Step by step

1. Open the official SRD siteType srd.sassa.gov.za yourself and find the banking-details update or contact-details option. Never use a ‘change your details’ link from an SMS or WhatsApp — those lead to fake sites.
2. Verify your identityEnter your 13-digit SA ID number. SASSA sends an OTP to the cellphone number on your file. Type that OTP into the site yourself; never share it with anyone.
3. Choose what to updateSelect whether you are changing your banking details, your cellphone number, or both. Follow the on-screen labels, as wording can change over time.
4. Enter the new bank accountProvide an account in your own name only. SASSA verifies that the account holder name matches your ID exactly — a spouse’s, parent’s or friend’s account will be rejected.
5. Confirm and submitDouble-check every digit of the account and branch information before submitting. A wrong number can send your payment astray or cause a rejection.
6. Allow processing timeChanges take time to verify and take effect. Do it well ahead of your next expected payment so the update is not caught mid-cycle.
7. Follow up if neededRe-check your status after a few days. If something looks wrong, or you have lost your registered number, phone SASSA on 0800 60 10 11.

Why this is worth getting right

Your banking details and cellphone number are the two things that decide whether your SRD money reaches you — and whether you can even check on it. Change SIMs and you may stop receiving OTPs; open a new account and forget to update SASSA and your payment can bounce. Getting these updates right, on the official site, is what keeps your R370 (the amount as of 2026 — confirm on srd.sassa.gov.za) landing where it should.

CluedUp is an independent how-to site, not SASSA. We cannot change your details for you, and neither can any ‘agent’ online. Only you can, through the official portal, with the OTP sent to your own phone.

The one rule about your bank account

The account you nominate for SRD payments must be in your own name. SASSA verifies that the account holder’s name matches your ID document exactly, which means you cannot use a spouse’s, parent’s, sibling’s or friend’s account — even with their full permission. This trips up many people who plan to ‘just use my sister’s account’. If you do not have your own account yet, open a basic one in your name first; most banks offer low-cost or entry-level accounts suitable for grants.

Updating your details, step by step

Head to srd.sassa.gov.za — typed in yourself — and open the banking-details or contact-details update option. Enter your ID number, and SASSA sends an OTP to the cellphone number already on your file. You type that code into the site to prove it is really you. Then choose whether you are changing your banking details, your phone number, or both, and enter the new information carefully. Check every digit of the account and branch details twice before you submit; a single wrong number can misroute a payment.

Your OTP is for the website, not for people. No genuine SASSA process asks you to read your OTP to a caller, a WhatsApp contact or an ‘agent’. Anyone who wants it is trying to take over your account.

The tricky part: a lost phone number

What if you can no longer receive the OTP because you have lost that SIM or number? This is the one situation the website cannot fully solve on its own, since verification depends on that number. Do not turn to third-party ‘agents’ who promise to fix it for a fee — that is exactly how accounts get hijacked. Instead, phone SASSA directly on 0800 60 10 11 and ask how to update the registered number on your file. Handling it through the official line keeps control in your hands.

Timing matters

Changes are not instant — they need to be verified and take effect — so do not leave an update to the day before you expect money. Make the change well ahead of your next cycle. Our SASSA payment dates guide explains how the monthly schedule generally works, so you can plan your update for a safe window. After changing details, re-check your SRD status after a few days and confirm the money arrives with how to check your SASSA balance.

The phishing trap to avoid

The most common scam here is a message — SMS, WhatsApp or email — claiming your grant is ‘blocked’ until you confirm your banking details through a link. The link leads to a fake page that harvests everything you type. Never act on such messages. Updating details is always free, always at srd.sassa.gov.za, and SASSA never asks for your PIN or banking password. If you receive one of these messages, report it on 0800 60 10 11, and if you were caught out, see how to report online fraud in South Africa.

CluedUp is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Fees, links and steps can change — always confirm on the official portal before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.