How to check your SASSA balance safely in 2026
Use the bank or card account that receives your grant. There is no verified general “SASSA online balance checker,” and you should never text your full card number.
Time-sensitive card update
Replace a SASSA Gold Card by 31 August 2026
Postbank says remaining Gold Cards will stop working after the migration deadline. Replacement with a Postbank Black Card is free at designated sites in participating Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay, Boxer and Spar stores. Take your South African ID.
Read the government notice ↗Quick answer: choose your payment account
| Your payment method | Safe balance check |
|---|---|
| Postbank account / Black Card | Postbank SMS, ATM, participating retailer or Postbank support |
| Personal bank account | Your bank’s app, official USSD, ATM, statement or call centre |
| SRD R370 payment | Check status on the SRD portal; check the balance with the bank after payment |
Verified ways to check your grant balance
Postbank customers
1. Postbank SMS balance enquiry
- Use the cellphone number registered on your Postbank account.
- Type BAL, a space and the last four digits of your account number.
- Send the SMS to 32302.
- Wait for the reply showing the Postbank account balance.
Postbank lists a R1 charge per SMS. If your cellphone number is not registered on the account, the request will be rejected.
Verify the Postbank SMS instructions ↗2. ATM balance enquiry
- Use the card linked to the account that receives your grant.
- Cover the keypad and enter your PIN.
- Select Balance Enquiry and choose whether to display or print it.
- Take your card and receipt before leaving.
A fee may apply depending on the card, bank and ATM. Cancel the transaction if anyone offers to “help” or asks you to reinsert the card.
3. Participating retailer
Ask whether the till supports a balance enquiry for your card before entering your PIN. Keep control of the card and cover the keypad. Services and fees can differ by retailer.
4. Your personal bank
If SASSA pays your grant into a bank account in your name, use that bank’s official app, USSD code, internet banking, ATM or statement. The correct code comes from your bank, not from SASSA.
5. Ask Postbank for account help
For a Postbank statement, balance or account enquiry, call 0800 53 54 55 or use the official Postbank support details. SASSA’s toll-free grant helpline is 0800 60 10 11.
Application status and account balance are different
The SASSA Services portal shows permanent-grant applications linked to your profile. The SRD portal shows an SRD application and payment status. Neither replaces a bank or Postbank balance enquiry.
Child grant, pension and disability grant balances
The balance-check method does not change because of the grant type. Check the account or card that receives the Older Persons, Disability, Child Support, Foster Child, Care Dependency or Grant-in-Aid payment. If more than one grant enters the same account, the balance is the account total; use a statement to identify transactions.
Protect your grant money
- • Never share your card PIN or one-time PIN.
- • Never text a full card or account number.
- • Do not use an unverified web or USSD “balance checker.”
- • Cover the keypad at ATMs and tills.
- • Report an unfamiliar transaction immediately.
- • Keep receipts until the balance is confirmed.
SASSA balance FAQs
- How do I check my SASSA balance by SMS?
- If your grant is paid into a Postbank account, send BAL followed by the last four digits of your Postbank account number to 32302 from the cellphone number registered on the account. Use the account number, not the card number. Postbank lists a R1 SMS charge.
- Can I check a SASSA balance online?
- SASSA’s official portals let you manage a grant application or check an SRD status, but they do not advertise a general card-balance checker. Check the account that receives the grant through Postbank, an ATM, a participating retailer or your own bank.
- Is *120*3210# an official SASSA balance code?
- We could not verify that code on the current SASSA or Postbank websites. Do not enter your card number or PIN into an unverified USSD service. Use a method published by your payment provider.
- How do I check a Child Support Grant balance?
- The method depends on where the Child Support Grant is paid, not the grant type. Use your Postbank account method, card at an ATM or retailer, or your personal bank’s app, USSD or ATM.
- When does the SASSA Gold Card stop working?
- Government and Postbank notices say remaining SASSA Gold Cards must be replaced by 31 August 2026. The replacement with a Postbank Black Card is free at designated Postbank sites.
- Is an SRD status the same as a balance?
- No. The official SRD portal shows application and payment status. After a payment reaches your selected bank account, check the balance with that bank.
Bursaries open right now for South African students
You came here for a login - but if you're still figuring out how to pay for your degree, we've catalogued every active bursary in South Africa.