A lost ID card is not the same as having no identity record. SASSA has a route for some people who have no ID document. Its January 2026 notice refers to a special number in its grant database. Ask SASSA how this applies to you.
What SASSA’s published rule says
The 19 January 2026 eligibility notice describes two ways to be on record. One is through Home Affairs. The other is through SASSA’s grant database. SASSA can use its own unique number for people without ID documents. You must still meet the other SRD rules.
Do not invent an ID number. The notice does not say which online form accepts the special number. Ask SASSA which route fits your record.
If the document is lost but you know the number
Start with the official SRD service and follow its checks. The number and the card are two different things. A lost card does not tell you whether the website can verify your record.
Replace a lost document through Home Affairs. You may need it for later checks or other services. Do not send an ID photo to someone who offers a paid shortcut.
If you have no ID number
Contact SASSA on 0800 60 10 11 or ask a local office about the route in its 2026 notice. Say if SASSA already has a record for you. Tell the official if you have a number from that record. Ask what proof and checks you need.
You may also need Home Affairs to register or fix your details. Start that work too. A missing Home Affairs number does not by itself rule out the SASSA route.
If you use a permit or refugee record
The same SASSA notice lists the groups that can qualify. These include refugees and holders of the listed special permits. It also includes asylum seekers with a valid section 22 permit or visa. Use the official route that matches your papers.
Do not type a permit number in a field meant for a South African ID. Ask for help if the form cannot take your type of document. Having a listed permit does not guarantee a grant.
If the online form cannot verify you
Save the exact error and ask for help. An error is not always a formal refusal. SASSA may ask for a face scan. If you lack a device or data, its January 2026 notice directs beneficiaries to local offices for assistance.
For a formal refusal, read the decision and check the SRD appeal route. For a lookup problem, see checking status when ID details are missing. Never use someone else’s number to get past verification.