Your financial safety net when you lose your job, go on maternity leave, fall ill or face other hardships.
What is UIF?
UIF is a government fund that both you and your employer contribute to every month. If you lose your job (not by choice), you can claim back up to 238 days of financial support.
1%
You pay (of salary)
1%
Employer pays
238
Max days benefit
60%
Max % of salary
What can you claim?
work_off
Unemployment Benefits
Retrenched, dismissed, or contract expired. Up to 238 days.
pregnant_woman
Maternity Benefits
Up to 121 days of maternity leave pay.
sick
Illness Benefits
If off work for more than 7 days due to illness.
family_restroom
Adoption & Death Benefits
Adopting a child under 2, or dependant of deceased contributor.
How to claim UIF
1
Go to uFiling.gov.za
Register on uFiling.gov.za or visit your nearest Labour Centre. The paperless system processes claims instantly.
2
Get your UI19 form from employer
Your employer must give you this form showing why you left. Code matters: 04 = Dismissed, 11 = Retrenched.
3
Submit documents
ID, bank details, last 3 months payslips, UI19 form. All can be submitted online.
4
Confirm seeking employment monthly
You must confirm each month online that you are actively looking for work to continue receiving benefits.
Enter your monthly salary to estimate your UIF payout. Based on the official sliding scale — low earners receive a higher percentage.
R
Monthly UIF benefit
R0
Replacement rate
0%
—
⚠️ This is an estimate only. Actual UIF benefits depend on your credit days accumulated and the official sliding scale formula. Benefits are capped at a salary of R17,712/month.
UIF — Frequently Asked Questions
UIF payments typically take 4–8 weeks after submitting a complete application on uFiling. The timeline depends on whether your employer has submitted your UI-19 form and whether your documents are complete. Once approved, funds are deposited directly into your bank account. You can track progress by logging into uFiling and checking your claim status.
Yes. Domestic workers (housekeepers, gardeners, child minders) who work more than 24 hours per month are covered by UIF. Their employer must register them for UIF and deduct 1% from their wages monthly, with the employer contributing another 1%. If the employer has not been registering and contributing, the domestic worker can report this to the Department of Employment and Labour.
"Sent to Assessor" means your UIF claim documents have been received and are now being reviewed by a claims assessor. This is a normal step in the process — it usually takes 5–15 business days for the assessor to complete the review. After this, your status should change to "Assessed" and then "Approved" if everything is in order.
Your UIF benefit duration depends on how long you contributed. For every 4 days worked as a contributor, you earn 1 day of UIF benefit. The maximum is 365 days (about 12 months) for someone who contributed for 4+ years. If you worked for 2 years, you'd qualify for approximately 182 benefit days. Maternity benefits are limited to 121 days regardless of contribution period.
