Please note that this website cannot answer your questions about your UIF application. You must apply and submit your continuation forms via the UIF website. If you are struggling with the online application process, you can email Ms Ditoro Makgato, Mr Deon van Niekerk or Mr Tsepo Dube.
Makhosonke Buthelezi, director of communication and marketing at the Unemployment Insurance Fund, answers some questions relating to the new online UIF claiming process.
How many months can you claim UIF for?
UIF can be claimed for eight months, provided that you have full (238) credit days. For every six days that you work as a contributor, you receive one day’s credit, subject to a maximum of 238 days. To qualify for the full credit days you must have worked as a contributor for more than four years. The rate at which the benefits are payable ranges between 38% and 60% of your last remuneration as a contributor. Low-income earners receive a higher percentage.
I am from Welkom but I’m currently in Rustenburg looking for a job. As a UIF beneficiary I used to claim for UIF in Welkom. Do I have to return or can I receive my claim in Rustenburg?
If there are outstanding payments to be made on the original claim made in Welkom, then the claimant should continue to claim in Welkom. This will avoid confusion and delays because the records are in Welkom and it is easy to process the continuation of payment form from where the claim was originally made.
How long after being dismissed do I have to apply for benefits?
The prescription period for benefits is six months from date of termination of service, so you should submit your application for benefits as soon as possible after being dismissed. Note that ordinary benefits are payable from the date of application and not the date the job ended, so it is important to apply as soon as possible.
How do I go about filing online for my UIF benefits?
Simply go to www.ufiling.co.za and follow the steps to create an account. The service is completely free and allows UIF returns can to be done simply and conveniently online. Other benefits include ease of secure payments (debit order and credit push via internet banking) and faster processing times. uFiling is paperless and submission of declaration is instant and reliable.
As an online registered employee you will be able to securely submit your Application for Benefits (for unemployment, maternity, illness and adoption) as well as Continuation of Payment and Notice of Appeal. An employee can register on the Employee Portal if the employer has been accredited by the UIF. This portal will allow the employee to securely submit forms to the UIF electronically.
How long should it take after signing and being given a date as to when payment will be paid?
It should take no more than 10 working days to process the second or third payment after signing the continuation of payment. We use the 10 days to double check if the claimant is indeed still unemployed, and verify other personal details to prevent fraud.
I have not received my claim, and have had my forms sent back. What can I do?
Generally, claimants would be turned away if their forms are incomplete. Keep in mind that the banking details form is to be completed by the bank, and the salary schedule is to be completed by the employer. There are also cases where the claimant’s employment history shows that previous employer/s never terminated the applicant when she or he left.
If you are having a problem with a claim you can contact the call centre, but it helps to have the name of the official who has been assisting at the labour office as well as which labour office you have been dealing with in order to resolve the issue.
Sharecall: 0860-345-464 or 012-3371680 option 3
Email: ufilingsupport@uif.gov.za
I want to claim UIF during my maternity leave. How much will I receive?
The application should be made prior to the birth of a child or within six months of the birth.
The contributor must be receiving less than the normal remuneration while on maternity leave. Subject to credit days accumulated, benefits can be paid to a maximum of 121 days. In the event of a miscarriage or a stillbirth, benefits are only paid for a maximum period of six weeks after the miscarriage/stillbirth.
You can also claim for maternity benefits in the case of adoption. This application must be made within six months of the adoption order being issued by a competent court. The adopted child must be younger than two years old and only one of the adopting parents can apply for benefits, provided that the contributor suffers full or partial loss of earnings while physically caring for the child. Benefits are payable from the date on which adoption leave commences and the time must have been spent caring for the child.
Can I claim UIF benefits if I am too ill to work?
Yes, you can claim as long as the application is made within six months after you have stopped working due to the illness. Benefits are paid as from the date on which you stopped working. A medical certificate should be submitted to support the claim. The amount payable is the difference between what the employer pays and the rate that is prescribed in the benefits schedule of the Unemployment Insurance Act.
Benefits are only payable in respect of periods of illness lasting longer than 14 days and subject to credit days. Benefits can be paid to a maximum of 238 days in any period of four years.
| Ensure that your employer declares your UIF contribution with the Fund every month as this assists in the finalisation of the claims. Too often employers pay the lump sum via SARS, but UIF doesn’t know who they are paying for. So when the claimant applies, the Fund has to go back to the employer to obtain information about the individual applicant which delays the process. |
This article first appeared in City Press.
I submitted everything on my continueution for payment on the 12 March 2020 my status says sent to paymaster I didn’t receive my payment please help.
It seems that the whole system collapsed with the COVID-19 demands, many people have not been paid.
I have a problem I gave birth 3 January 2020 went to labour to submit birth certificates got my payment after 3 days and I went there again at Pretoria labour center to sign for continuation on 13 February on the 21 got a message that my benefits claim have been approved I must go and request for payment after 15 days I didn’t understand went there to get answers but nothing the person who was helping me didn’t explain what’s the problem he just said sign this and wait for your payment 7 to 10 days I waited the last time I went there was on 05 march I didn’t get answers I decided to do it on line when I checked status it says approved by assessor I did it was approved sent medical certificate on the 12 March it was saying sent to paymaster since today I didn’t get any payments and my maternity leave ended on the 24 March I’m back to work please help.
Please refer to the comment at the top of the article – it includes links to the relevant people.
My Mother signed for her 2nd payment on the 11th which was received but she is still awaiting payment. Is there a problem with payments? All was done online.
Please refer to the comment at the top of the article – it includes links to the relevant people.
Hi I filed a request for payment via ufiling on monday 23 march 2020 and did receive a SMS with a case number….tried calling customer care to follow up on the progress regarding my claim but call never gets answered…since I am now registered for ufiling , is there a option to check the progress of my payment via ufiling?
As far as I understand many people are having the same problem – there are email addresses at the top of the article that you can try
I have applied for uif in November last year and I still haven’t received any money, I have been calling every week and the only response I get is that it’s been escalated, how many months more must I wait, this is frustrating.
Please refer to the comment at the top of the article – it includes links to the relevant people.
If you recieve UIF monthly, must I still go hand in my form with my banking detail like usual every month during lockdown?
you have to do it online as the offices are closed
https://www.ufiling.co.za/uif/
When we do it online will we receive another date to submit for continuation of payment for the next month?
yes
Since the country is on shut down, how are we gonna sign to labour so that I can have money to buy food, suppose to get my second payment
Through the website
https://www.ufiling.co.za/uif/
As the UIF offices are closed, how do I hand in for form for my monthly claim. My next date is 3rd of April which fall within the current lockdown period. What do I do?
File online https://www.ufiling.co.za/uif/
Good day, does UIF pay out lump sums or is it only monthly?
monthly
Apologies for my late response. I receive a monthly amount which I will do for 8 months. Each month I have to go to an UIF office to hand in the form I received the previous month. I then receive a new form on which is written a date for the next month. My banking details need to be filled in on each form.
Many thanks.
The offices are closed and you have to use online filing. It is apparently not working very well at the moment – a bit of a mess..
Uif online shows payment done, when will I get my money
I went to the labour department on the 30th of January 2020 and is awaiting my SMS. They say I must wait 35 days. Is that working days only or does it count saterays in because I have heard nothing yet.
Good day
If a company has paid UIF to SARS every month but they have not declared to who its the contribution is for, how can the company correct that?
The company has to also have been registered with department of labour for the UIF – that is where the details would be held.
https://www.ufiling.co.za/uif/
We have not yet received the computer bulk payments is UIF for the catergory of persons who were supposed to have paud 365 days.
Please advise when can we expect payment and how much.
Regards
Good day, i signed the register on Tuesday the 3th of march 2020, and i was told that i will receive the money between Thursday and Friday and today is Saturday i haven’t get the money. What worries me is that the guys i signed the register with they got it on Wednesday… Please assist
With the lockdown being instituted from midnight tonight is UIF considered to be a social Grant? I am a pensioner. Do I still have to go and sign in person?
The response from UIF:
Those beneficiaries who still have to sign the payment of continuation forms are encouraged to do so on uFiling. They must first register on uFiling to create their profile and then go to the continuation of payment part.
We encourage our beneficiaries to have a bank account because that is the only way they can receive payment.
Hallo
My maternity application status says: Completed by Assessor.
What do I do next?
When about can I expect payments?
The website https://www.ufiling.co.za/uif/ has a lot information.
My son inlaw went for uif and took all his documents in when he went for the first time that were on the 6 of this month and the gave him a date for the 23march is that to her when his first pay out will take place or will he get paid before then cause he receives a sms saying that he they will notify him in35 days
The website https://www.ufiling.co.za/uif/ provides how the process works