# NERSI ₦50,000 relief: 5 steps to check your status without paying anyone > You cannot apply for the Federal Government's ₦50,000 NERSI relief. You can check whether you were selected, using your provider's USSD code, and nobody should charge you to do it. Money & Markets · Binatec Pulse · David Banjo · Published 2026-11-09T11:37:03.975Z · Updated 2026-11-09T11:37:04Z Canonical: https://pulse.binatecagency.com/money/nersi-50000-relief-how-to-check-status-avoid-scams ## Key points - NERSI has no application form: beneficiaries are picked from the National Social Register and verified national identity records. - Selected people get an SMS from one of five approved providers and must accept before money is credited. - Official codes reported by Nigerian outlets include *955*20# (OPay), *5573*27# (Moniepoint), *671*0# (MoMo PSB) and *726*00# (NairaGram). - Anyone asking you to pay, or for your PIN, OTP or BVN, is a scammer. - Details were checked against reports dated 3 to 6 November 2026; the programme is paid in phases and may change. The Federal Government's National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) was [announced on Friday 30 October 2026](https://allafrica.com/stories/202611030378.html) by Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Minister Dr Bernard Doro, to cushion the effect of high food and living costs. Eligible beneficiaries are due ₦50,000 a month, according to the same report. This guide, last checked on 9 November 2026, explains how to find out whether you were picked, using only what officials and established Nigerian outlets have published. One point first, because it saves money and heartache: there is nothing to apply for. [Nairametrics reports the official line](https://nairametrics.com/2026/11/05/how-opay-customers-can-check-eligibility-for-fgs-n50000-relief/) that Nigerians cannot independently apply, or pay, to be included in the beneficiary list. ## Who is eligible for NERSI ₦50,000 relief? Beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, then screened for poor and vulnerable households, [according to Daily Trust](https://allafrica.com/stories/202611030378.html). Selection is based on need and payments are made in phases, so neighbours may be contacted on different days. [Legit.ng reports](https://www.legit.ng/business-economy/money/1739902-n50000-cash-support-fgs-programme-eligibility-payment/) that the programme covers all six geopolitical zones. Daily Trust notes that the government has not said how long NERSI will run or when payments will end, and Dr Doro said it would be reviewed regularly against the cost of living. Treat any claim of a fixed number of months as unconfirmed. ## How do I check if I was selected for NERSI? You check through one of the approved payment providers. Early reports named ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo PSB and NairaGram; later reports from [Nairametrics](https://nairametrics.com/2026/11/05/how-opay-customers-can-check-eligibility-for-fgs-n50000-relief/) and [Legit.ng](https://www.legit.ng/business-economy/money/1739902-n50000-cash-support-fgs-programme-eligibility-payment/) list five: ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint. Follow these steps. - Step 1: Use the phone number linked to your NIN. Daily Trust says funds go to mobile wallets tied to your phone number and NIN, so use that SIM. - Step 2: Dial your provider's code and choose the eligibility option. Legit.ng lists OPay *955*20#, Moniepoint *5573*27#, MoMo PSB *671*0# and NairaGram *726*00#. For ALAT, Legit.ng gives *945*23#, but another outlet printed a different code, so confirm it with ALAT on 0803 900 3700 before dialling. - Step 3: Read the reply. Legit.ng reports that people not selected see: "You are currently not selected to receive this relief support." That is not a rejection forever, because payment is phased. - Step 4: If you are selected, accept. Money is not released until you consent, and a wallet is then opened and credited, per Legit.ng. Nairametrics adds that OPay customers can also tap the NERSI banner in the app. - Step 5: Withdraw or spend. Daily Trust says you can cash out at banks or POS agents, or spend from the wallet. Agents may charge normal withdrawal fees, so ask first. No smartphone is needed. Daily Trust says people without a smartphone or mobile data can use USSD, and Legit.ng says a basic phone works. ## How do I spot a NERSI scam message? Scammers follow every payout. The rules reported by [Legit.ng](https://www.legit.ng/business-economy/money/1739902-n50000-cash-support-fgs-programme-eligibility-payment/) and Nairametrics are consistent: - Genuine messages come only from the five official provider sender names. - Official messages never ask for payment, your PIN, OTP, password or BVN, and contain no claim links. - Nobody can add your name to the list or speed up payment for a fee. Anyone who says otherwise is a scammer. - Do not click links promising to release the money. If you are unsure, call the NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222. That number appears on [the official NERSI page of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction](https://fmhapr.gov.ng/nersi), alongside the programme's partner providers and guidance in English, Hausa, Igbo, Yorùbá and Pidgin. ## What are the open questions about NERSI payments? Transparency groups have asked for clarity. [Arise News reports](https://www.arise.tv/actionaid-demands-transparency-over-fgs-n50000-cash-support/) that ActionAid welcomed the support but called for transparency and accountability, including on whether the payment is one-off or monthly. The total budget and the number of beneficiaries were not stated in the reports we reviewed. What we cannot tell you is whether any particular person will be selected or when. That depends on the register and the payment phases, and no timetable has been published. Check again if your first result says you are not selected, and rely only on the official channels above. ## What should I do before dialling any code? Make sure your phone number is the one linked to your NIN, keep your PIN and OTP to yourself, and dial only the code for a provider you actually hold or can verify. If you have no account with any of the five, you can still be selected: an SMS from the assigned provider will explain how to accept, according to Legit.ng. Do not hand your phone or details to a third party, even a helpful neighbour, to do the check for you. Pulse will update this guide if the ministry publishes a schedule or changes the process. Readers who want to understand how digital wallets and mobile payments are used by small businesses can also see our other money guides for Nigeria. ## Questions people are asking ### Can I apply for the NERSI ₦50,000 relief? No. Officials say there is no application process and Nigerians cannot pay or apply to be included, per Nairametrics and Daily Trust. ### How do I check if I am selected for NERSI? Dial your approved provider's USSD code, such as *955*20# for OPay or *5573*27# for Moniepoint, from the phone number linked to your NIN and choose the eligibility option. ### What is the NERSI helpline number? The NERSI helpline listed on the official page is 0700-022-2222. ### Is NERSI a loan I must repay? Legit.ng describes it as a grant, not a loan, so there is no repayment, but read your provider's acceptance prompt carefully. ### How long will the ₦50,000 payments last? The government has not announced a duration or end date, according to Daily Trust. ## Sources 1. [What You Should Know About FG's N50,000 Relief](https://allafrica.com/stories/202611030378.html), Daily Trust via AllAfrica 2. [How OPay customers can check eligibility for FG's N50,000 relief](https://nairametrics.com/2026/11/05/how-opay-customers-can-check-eligibility-for-fgs-n50000-relief/), Nairametrics 3. [All You Need To Know About FG's N50k Cash Support](https://www.legit.ng/business-economy/money/1739902-n50000-cash-support-fgs-programme-eligibility-payment/), Legit.ng 4. [National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention](https://fmhapr.gov.ng/nersi), Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction 5. [ActionAid demands transparency over FG's N50,000 cash support](https://www.arise.tv/actionaid-demands-transparency-over-fgs-n50000-cash-support/), Arise News