Use this page to find USSD codes by government service in South Africa. The aim is to help you move quickly to the right public-service route for SARS, UIF, SASSA, Home Affairs, and other government-related tasks without trusting fake numbers, screenshots, or forwarded messages.
Last checked: 26 June 2026. Always confirm the latest code, menu path, fee, eligibility rule, and support route on the official department website before entering personal information.
Quick USSD Codes By Government Service List
| Government service | USSD code or status | What it helps with | Last-verified note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARS mobile tax services | *134*7277# | Personal income tax services such as checking whether you have a tax number, account balance, return submission status, or other mobile tax options. | SARS lists *134*7277# as its USSD service and says it should be used from your SARS-registered cellphone number. (South African Revenue Service) |
| SARS tax number request | *134*7277# | Requesting your tax number through the SARS mobile tax menu. | SARS says users can dial the USSD code, choose the required service, complete ID/passport/asylum-number verification, and receive a response if verified. (South African Revenue Service) |
| UIF services | *134*843# | UIF claims status, payment status, employee registration, payment continuation, and general enquiries. | The Department of Employment and Labour lists *134*843# as the UIF USSD channel. (Department of Labour) |
| SASSA SRD route | *134*7737# | SRD access/application route listed by government sources. | South African Government has listed *134*7737# for SRD access, but users should confirm the current SRD route on official SASSA/SRD channels before relying on it. (Government of South Africa) |
| SASSA grants and fraud help | No general grant USSD confirmed here | Grant enquiries, fraud concerns, pay-out questions, and application help. | The SASSA Services Portal lists 0800 60 10 11 for grant information and fraud reporting; use official SASSA channels if a USSD code is not published for your task. (SASSA Services Portal) |
| Home Affairs | No official USSD confirmed from checked DHA pages | ID, passport, citizenship, appointment, and status-related support. | DHA points users to official online/contact routes, including the Home Affairs contact centre on 0800 601 190 and the eHomeAffairs portal for selected services. (Ehome) |
| Compensation Fund / Labour contact routes | No specific Compensation Fund USSD confirmed here | Labour-related enquiries and compensation support routes. | The Department of Employment and Labour contact listings show the UIF USSD channel and other support routes; verify the exact service before assuming a USSD option exists. (Department of Labour) |
| Other government services | Check official source first | Municipal, licensing, public-service, and department-specific support. | Use this page as a starting directory, then confirm on the relevant department’s official website. |
The most important rule is simple: do not assume every government service has a USSD code. SARS and UIF have clearly published USSD routes. SASSA/SRD has an official government-listed USSD route that should be rechecked before use. For Home Affairs and other public services, use official online, call-centre, or department contact channels unless a current USSD code is published by the department.
Browse by Provider, Bank, or Task
Provider-specific links
Use these links when you want to move from this directory to a more focused page:
| Need | Go to |
|---|---|
| Public service USSD codes | public service USSD codes |
| Broader South African USSD directory | USSD codes South Africa |
| Main USSD Code South Africa homepage | USSD Code South Africa |
Government-service filters
| If you need help with… | Start here | What to check before using USSD |
|---|---|---|
| Tax number, tax balance, return status, SARS mobile tax help | SARS | Use the SARS-registered cellphone number and check that the code is still listed by SARS. |
| UIF claim or payment status | UIF | Check whether your task is supported in the current UIF menu before entering details. |
| SRD grant route | SASSA/SRD | Confirm the current SRD route on the official SASSA or SRD website before submitting or changing details. |
| ID, passport, or appointment | Home Affairs | Use DHA’s official online or contact-centre channels unless DHA publishes a current USSD code. |
| Government contact or public-service support | Relevant department | Check the department’s official website, not a forwarded message or social media comment. |
Bank-specific links
Some government-service journeys involve a bank account, but a bank USSD menu is not the same as a government USSD code. Use a bank-specific guide only when your task is clearly a banking task, such as checking whether money arrived, viewing a bank balance, changing a payment route through an official process, or contacting your bank about an account issue.
Do not enter SARS, SASSA, UIF, Home Affairs, or ID-document details into a bank menu unless the official department process tells you to do so.
Task-specific links
| Task | Best next step |
|---|---|
| Find a government USSD code | Start with public service USSD codes. |
| Compare government, network, and banking codes | Use USSD codes South Africa. |
| Check if a government code is real | Confirm it on the official department website before dialling. |
| Avoid a fake support number | Use only published department contact pages, not screenshots or forwarded messages. |
| Fix a failed USSD session | Retry carefully, check signal, use the correct registered SIM, and switch to the official website or call centre if the menu keeps failing. |
How to Use These USSD Codes
- Choose the correct public service first. SARS, UIF, SASSA, and Home Affairs are separate services. A code for one department will not automatically help with another department’s process.
- Confirm the code on an official source. Before dialling, check whether the code appears on a government, department, agency, or official service page. SARS and UIF publish their USSD channels on official pages. (South African Revenue Service)
- Use the cellphone number linked to your profile where required. SARS says its USSD service works from the SARS-registered cellphone number. If you use a different SIM, the menu may fail or verification may not work. (South African Revenue Service)
- Prepare the right details. Depending on the service, you may need your South African ID number, passport number, asylum number, tax details, UIF information, grant application details, or the cellphone number used for an application. SARS says its USSD verification may request an ID, passport, or asylum number before showing a tax result. (South African Revenue Service)
- Dial the code exactly as shown. USSD codes usually start with
*and end with#. A missing symbol can send you to the wrong menu or make the request fail. - Read each menu screen before replying. USSD sessions are live and can time out. Do not rush through menus involving tax, grants, UIF, bank details, or personal information.
- Stop if the request looks unsafe. A real public-service route should not ask you to give your banking PIN, card PIN, online banking password, OTP, full card details, or CVV to another person.
- Use an official alternative if USSD does not work. SARS also publishes other mobile/self-service routes, UIF has online support routes, and Home Affairs points users to official online and contact-centre options. (South African Revenue Service)
Costs, Safety, and Last-Verified Notes
USSD can work without mobile data, but that does not mean every related service is always free. SARS has described its USSD channel as free of charge, while other services may vary by department, network, or channel. (South African Revenue Service)
Before using any government mobile service, check these items:
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Exact code | Fake codes can look similar to real ones. |
| Department name | SARS, UIF, SASSA, and Home Affairs do not share one universal USSD menu. |
| Current menu path | USSD options can change even when the main code stays the same. |
| Cost | Some services may be free, while related SMS or support routes may cost airtime. |
| Registered cellphone requirement | Some services may only work from the number linked to your official profile. |
| Eligibility | A menu option does not mean you qualify for a grant, refund, claim, or payment. |
| Support route | If a USSD code fails, use the official website, portal, app, or call centre. |
SASSA-related messages need extra caution. South African Government guidance warns that applicants should not provide banking details to anyone, and that beneficiaries and applicants should never give their PIN or card CVV to anyone, not even SASSA. (Government of South Africa)
A message or code may be fake if it:
- asks for your OTP, banking PIN, card PIN, password, CVV, or full card number;
- promises faster grant, UIF, tax, or Home Affairs approval for a fee;
- sends you to a shortened or unofficial link;
- tells you to WhatsApp ID documents to a private number;
- claims your grant, refund, claim, or ID document will be cancelled unless you act immediately;
- uses a real department name but an unofficial phone number;
- asks you to pay for a free public-service application.
When in doubt, stop. Go back to the relevant department’s official website or use a verified contact route.
Related USSD Guides
For a broader public-service directory, use public service USSD codes.
For a wider national directory of mobile, network, banking, airtime, data, and support codes, use USSD codes South Africa.
For the main site hub, visit USSD Code South Africa.
FAQs
What is the code for USSD codes by government service?
There is no single verified code for every government service in South Africa. SARS lists *134*7277# for mobile tax services, UIF lists *134*843#, and South African Government has listed *134*7737# for SRD access. (South African Revenue Service)
Is there a verified USSD option for SARS?
Yes. SARS lists *134*7277# as its USSD service for mobile tax services. SARS says users should dial the code, select the required service, and complete verification where required. (South African Revenue Service)
Is there a verified USSD option for UIF?
Yes. The Department of Employment and Labour lists *134*843# as the UIF USSD channel. The department says the menu includes options such as claims status, payment status, employee registration, payment continuation, and general enquiries. (Department of Labour)
Is there a verified USSD option for SASSA?
South African Government has listed *134*7737# for SRD access, but users should confirm the current SRD route on official SASSA/SRD channels before relying on it. For general grants and fraud support, SASSA lists its toll-free support and fraud route on the SASSA Services Portal. (Government of South Africa)
Is there a verified USSD option for Home Affairs?
No current Home Affairs USSD code was confirmed from the checked DHA pages. DHA points users to official online and contact-centre routes, including the Home Affairs contact centre and eHomeAffairs portal for selected services. (Ehome)
Does this USSD code need airtime or data?
It depends on the service and network. SARS has described its USSD channel as free of charge, but you should still check the official department page for the exact service you plan to use. Do not assume that every government mobile service, SMS route, or support route is free. (South African Revenue Service)
What should I do if the code does not work?
Check that you typed the code correctly, including the first * and final #. Try again with better signal, use the SIM linked to your official profile where required, and confirm that the code is still published by the department. If it still fails, use the official website, app, online portal, or call centre.
What information should users never share when checking government service USSD codes?
Never share your OTP, banking PIN, card PIN, online banking password, full card details, or card CVV with another person. Government guidance for SASSA-related services specifically warns beneficiaries and applicants not to give their PIN or CVV to anyone. (Government of South Africa)
How can users tell whether a government USSD message is fake?
Treat a message as suspicious if it asks for secret banking details, demands payment for a free service, uses an unofficial link, sends you to a private number, or pressures you to act immediately. Real public-service information should be confirmed through official department sources.
Where can I find related USSD codes?
Use public service USSD codes for government-related routes, USSD codes South Africa for a broader national directory, or USSD Code South Africa for the main hub.