The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) was created to serve as a lifeline to workers as some circumstances beyond human control may lead to an unfortunate outcome. It is a short-term financial aid offered to workers who are registered with the UIF and equally contribute a certain percentage of their monthly remuneration to the fund. Financial assistance is usually given to workers by UIF when they become unemployed due to dismissal, retrenchment, or retirement. They can also claim the UIF benefits when they are ill, on maternity leave, adoption leave, or are dependents of deceased contributors.
Hence, the benefits provided by the Unemployment Insurance Fund are divided into five categories. They include unemployment benefits, maternity benefits, illness benefits, dependents (death) benefits, and adoption benefits. Employees can apply to claim any of the aforementioned benefits at the Labour Office nearest to them or online through the Department of Employment and Labour’s UIF online portal called Ufiling.
Follow These Steps To Apply For The UIF Benefits Claim Online
Even though workers who are registered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund and also contribute to the fund are qualified to claim the UIF benefits, there are some who can’t claim from the fund. They include those that resigned, absconded from work, or were sacked, as well as those that fall ill due to their own misconduct or refused to follow the doctor’s instructions. That being said, the application for a UIF claim can be submitted online on the Ufiling website. For one to apply, he or she has to activate their employee account with the following requirements:
- Cellphone number
- E-mail address
- A valid 13 digit South African ID number
The five steps involved in the online application for unemployment benefits claim include:
STEP 1: Acceptance of terms and conditions.
STEP 2: Confirmation of your banking details.
STEP 3: Verification/completion of your personal details. Update any changes in the process.
STEP 4: Submission of your qualification and occupation.
STEP 5: Confirmation that you are a work seeker.
Steps 1-4 are the same for the application of other UIF benefits claim. However, step 5 varies and for maternity, illness, and adoption benefits, the applicants have to provide a confirmation that they are not receiving any salary from their employer during maternity leave, illness leave, or adoption leave. An applicant for the adoption benefits is also required to submit details of the adopted child.
Forms To Be Completed To Claim UIF Benefits
There are different procedures and requirements for contributors who are applying for any of the five types of UIF benefits at the nearest Labour Centre. Those applying for the unemployment benefits claim are expected to do the following:
- Confirm you are a work seeker by signing the unemployment register at the nearest Labour Office.
- To show that you really need to claim the UIF benefits, you will be signing the register every four weeks and the date will be given to you by the UIF claims officer.
- A white card will be handed to you by the officer, who will be signing on it anytime you sign the unemployment register.
After eight weeks of registration, you will start getting your unemployment benefits if everything works out perfectly. The money will be paid once every month until you have exhausted your benefits, which should be collected at the Labour Office on the correct dates. In case you didn’t receive your benefits after eight weeks of registration, place a call to the Labour Centre to find out the reason(s) behind the delay.
Terms and Conditions For The Unemployment Benefits Claim
- Application for the unemployment benefits claim must be done within 12 months of termination of your employment.
- The applicant must be capable of and available for work.
- The applicant must be prepared to undergo vocational counseling and training if directed by the UIF officer.
- If the applicant refuses to undergo training without a just cause, his or her benefits will be forfeited.
- Benefits are only payable when the termination of service lasts for 14 days or more.
- Benefits are paid from the date your employment was terminated.
- The unemployment benefits are payable for a maximum of 365 days within a four-year period.
Maternity Benefits Forms
To claim UIF maternity benefits, one needs to register at the nearest Labour Centre. Afterward, a UF92 Form will be given to you to be filled by your doctor. You’ll then submit the form to the claims officer. Your benefits will be paid by cheque and will be posted to you. After giving birth, a contributor is expected to complete the UF95 Form, alongside the doctor who delivered the child.
Terms and Conditions For The UIF Maternity Benefits Claim
- For a contributor to apply for maternity benefits claim, the person must have been employed for at least 13 weeks.
- UIF contributors must apply for maternity benefits at any time before or after childbirth.
- A contributor who applied for a maternity benefits claim can also apply to claim unemployment benefits if the person gets unemployed.
- Maternity benefits are paid for a maximum period of 121 days.
- Benefits are also paid for a maximum period of 121 days if an employee has a miscarriage or stillborn child.
- Female contributors receive benefits at a flat rate of 66 percent for the period after childbirth or confinement.
Illness Benefits Forms
UIF contributors applying for illness benefits claim need to complete the UI2.8 form at the Labour Centre closest to them. If the person is seriously ill and cannot make it to the office, then a relative or close friend can get the form at the Labour Office for the person to sign. The signed form must be returned to the Labour Office afterward. A medical certificate from the applicant’s doctor known as Form UF86 should also be submitted to the UIF claims officer after the doctor must have completed the appropriate section on the form.
Once your application is considered by the Department of Labour, Form UF87 will be posted to you. It should be filled by you and signed by your doctor and then be submitted to the UIF officer. Illness benefits are paid by cheque and posted to the UIF contributors.
Terms and Conditions For Illness Benefits Claim
- Application for the illness benefits claim must be done within six months the employee gets ill and ceases to work as a result of the illness.
- The contributor gets paid from the date he or she stops work due to the illness.
- Benefits are only paid when the illness has lasted for 7 days or longer.
- Payments for Illness benefits can be made for a maximum of 365 days within a period of four years.
- If as a result of the illness, your employment gets terminated, you can also apply for the unemployment benefits claim and get paid for the period not covered by the illness benefits.
Adoption Benefits Form
UIF’s adoption benefits claim can be applied for at the Labour Office closest to you. Contributors receive their payments by cheques which are posted alongside a form. The form must be completed and returned to the UIF claims officer at the Labour Office.
Terms and Conditions For The UIF Adoption Benefits Claim
- Application for adoption benefits claim must be done within 12 months after getting a court order for adoption.
- The benefits can only be applied for by one contributor of the adopting parents.
- Benefits are paid from the date the contributor was issued an Order of Adoption by a competent court.
- The adopted child must be younger than two years.
- The child must be adopted in terms of the Child Care Act, 1993.
- The period the contributor ceases to work must be used to care for the child.
- The adoption benefits are payable for a maximum of 365 days within a four-year period.
Dependents (Death) Benefits Forms
Death benefits can be claimed from the UIF by the husband or wife of the deceased contributor, as well as their minor children and life partners. The spouse of the deceased contributor needs to complete Form UF126 at the nearest Labour Office. Also, the child of the deceased contributor can claim the benefits by filling and submitting Form UF127 at the Labour Office. Afterward, the claims officer will give the beneficiaries of the deceased worker Form UF128 which should be completed by the last employer of the deceased and submitted to the Labour Office.
The amount the deceased contributors would have earned if they were alive and unemployed will be paid at once to their beneficiaries as the dependents (death) benefits.
Terms and Conditions For UIF Death Benefits Claim
- Contributors are allowed to name their beneficiaries for this type of UIF benefit.
- The application for the benefits claim must be done by the surviving spouse or life partner within eighteen months of the contributor’s demise.
- If the surviving spouse or life partner fails to apply within eighteen months, the children of the deceased contributors should apply to claim the benefits within 14 days after the expiry of the 18 months.
- When there is no surviving spouse to claim the death benefits, a dependant child who is below 25 years old can claim the benefits.
- Benefits are paid to the surviving spouse, life partner, or any dependant child of the deceased contributor.
- Death benefits can be payable for a maximum period of 365 days within four years.
What Documents Do I Need To Claim My UIF Benefits?
For the five categories of UIF benefits, the documents needed for claiming them differ, and they are as follows:
Unemployment Benefits
- Proof of registration as a work seeker.
- Fully completed UI2.8 application form.
- Copy of 13 digits bar-coded South African identity document/passport or valid foreign national passport/ID card permits for refugees.
- Service certificate from the last employer.
- Copies of your last six payslips.
- Information provided by your employer on UI19 Form.
Maternity Benefits
- Copy of 13 digits bar-coded South African identity document/passport or valid foreign national passport.
- Fully completed UI2.8 application form.
- Proof of banking details.
- Service certificate from your employer.
- Copies of your last six payslips.
- Information provided by your employer on UI19 Form.
- A bank account statement showing the amount paid to you by your employer during maternity leave.
Adoption Benefits
- Copy of the adopted child’s birth certificate.
- A bank account statement showing the amount paid to you by your employer during adoption leave.
- Copies of your last six payslips.
- Information provided by your employer on the UI19 form.
- Copy of 13 digits bar-coded South African identity document/passport or valid foreign national passport.
- Adoption Order from the court.
- Proof of banking details.
- Service certificate from your employer.
- Fully completed UI2.8 application form.
Illness Benefits
- Copies of your last six payslips.
- Medical certificate (Form UF86) from your doctor.
- A bank account statement showing the amount paid to you by your employer during the period of the illness.
- Copy of 13 digits bar-coded South African identity document/passport or valid foreign national passport.
- Service certificate from your employer.
- Fully completed UI2.8 application form.
- Proof of banking details.
- Information provided by your employer on the UI19 form.
Dependents (Death) Benefits
The surviving spouse of the deceased contributor needs to visit the Labour Office with the following:
- 13 digit bar-coded South African identity document.
- 13 digit bar-coded South African identity document/valid passport/valid foreign national passport particulars of the deceased.
- Copy of death certificate/post mortem certificate/burial order.
- Copies of the deceased last six payslips.
- Well-completed UI2.8 application form.
- Copy of marriage certificate/proof of religious customary union. Traditional marriages ought to be registered at the Department of Home Affairs.
- Proof of your banking details.
- Information provided by the deceased employer on form UI19.
- Service certificate from the deceased employer.
- Fully completed Form UF126.
Documents needed by the child of the deceased contributor include:
- Proof of your banking details.
- Service certificate from the deceased employer.
- Information provided by the deceased employer on form UI19.
- Copies of the deceased last six payslips.
- 13 digit bar-coded South African identity document.
- 13 digit bar-coded South African identity document/valid passport/valid foreign national passport particulars of the deceased.
- Child’s birth certificate/baptismal certificate.
- Order of Adoption issued by the court (if applicable).
- Copy of death certificate/post mortem certificate/burial order.
- Proof that the child is a learner which could be a confirmation letter from a school/university/college or training institution.
- Proof of guardianship.
Procedure For Checking UIF Claim Application Status Online
You can check your UIF claim status on the same website; www.ufiling.co.za by doing the following:
- Click on check my status after logging in through your registered account on the online portal.
- Follow accordingly the instructions that will appear on the screen.
- Then submit the captcha details displayed on the screen.
- Enter your UIF Reference Number and afterward, the status of your UIF claim will be displayed.
Note: Your UIF claim status can also be checked via email. You can do this by sending an email to [email protected]. Ensure that your name, identification number, and UIF registration number are provided in the email.
How to Get UIF Reference Number
After employers register their staff with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for Unemployment Insurance Fund deductions, the employers will be given their workers’ UIF Reference number. Also, employers register with SARS for other payroll deductions such as Skills Development Levy (SDL). An employer, however, might not be aware of the UIF reference number as they didn’t register directly with the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Hence, one can easily get the UIF reference number on the ufiling website using the following guidelines;
STEP 1: Log onto the ufiling website.
STEP 2: Enter the Captcha details displayed on the screen.
STEP 3: Submit the 10 digit PAYE number given to you by SARS.
STEP 4: Click on the ‘Get UIF Reference’ button.
STEP 5: Your seven digits/1 digit reference number will be displayed. For example, 1356897/1.
Note: The UIF reference number can be used for different purposes. They include:
- Registration on the Department of Employment and Labour’s UIF online portal.
- Checking of UIF claim status online.
- Claiming of unemployment benefits.
- It is required when making deposits into any UIF bank account as it enables the correct allocation of the contribution payment.
