Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)
Inkomo Yomsebenzi Engasebenzi (UIF)

Key Points:

  • The UIF is a South African safety net that gives short-term financial help to workers who lose their jobs, get sick, go on maternity or adoption leave, or face other qualifying situations
  • If you work at least 24 hours a month and contribute to the fund, you’re likely eligible, but not if you resign voluntarily or work in certain government roles
  • Benefits include unemployment, illness, maternity, adoption, parental, and death payments, calculated at 38–58% of your average earnings over six months, up to a cap
  • You apply at a Labour Centre with your ID, banking details, and employer forms, but delays or missing documents can trip you up
  • Both you and your employer pay 1% of your salary each month to fund the UIF, with a ceiling of R17,712 monthly as of May 2025

What’s the UIF?

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is South Africa’s way of helping workers who hit a rough patch, like losing a job, taking maternity leave, or getting too sick to work. It’s run by the Department of Employment and Labour and gives short-term financial relief to keep you going. Think of it as a backup plan you and your employer fund together, so you’re not left stranded.

Eligibility Criteria

You’re likely eligible if:

  • You work at least 24 hours a month for an employer
  • You and your employer contribute to the UIF
  • You’re a full-time, part-time, or temporary worker, including domestic workers (since April 2003)
  • You lose your job through no fault of your own (e.g., retrenchment, contract ending, or dismissal), or you qualify for illness, maternity, adoption, or parental leave

Who Can’t Claim?

  • Workers employed less than 24 hours a month
  • Employees in national or provincial government roles (e.g., civil servants)
  • People who resign voluntarily (unless it’s due to constructive dismissal, which needs proof)
  • Self-employed individuals or independent contractors
  • Workers receiving an old-age pension (though they still contribute since 2007)

Functions and Benefits

The UIF offers five types of benefits:

Benefit Type Description Duration
Unemployment Benefits For those who lose their jobs due to retrenchment, dismissal, or contract expiry Up to 238 days
Illness Benefits If you’re off work for more than two weeks due to illness Up to 238 days
Maternity Benefits For pregnant workers taking leave Up to 121 days
Adoption Benefits For one adoptive parent taking leave to care for a child under two Up to 121 days
Death Benefits Paid to the spouse or minor child of a deceased contributor Lump sum

How Benefits Are Calculated:

Benefits are based on your average earnings over the last six months, up to a ceiling of R17,712 per month (R212,544 annually). You get 38–58% of your average daily earnings.

Application Process

UIF Application Checklist

Required Documents

  • South African ID or passport (bar-coded or smart ID)
  • Banking details (bank statement or letter confirming your account)
  • Form UI-19 (from your last employer, showing contribution history)
  • Form UI-2.7 (employer’s confirmation of unemployment, for unemployment benefits)
  • Additional documents depending on benefit type (medical certificate, proof of pregnancy, etc.)

Steps to Apply

  1. Check your eligibility
  2. Gather all required documents
  3. Visit your nearest Labour Centre
  4. Submit your claim with a Labour Centre officer
  5. Sign the unemployment register (for unemployment benefits)
  6. Wait for approval (2-8 weeks)

Contribution Details

The UIF is funded by contributions from both employees and employers:

  • Contribution Rate: 2% of monthly salary (1% from employee, 1% from employer)
  • Ceiling: Contributions capped at salary of R17,712 per month
  • Payment Process: Employers deduct and pay to SARS by the 7th of each month

Common Challenges and Solutions

Challenge Solution
Delays in processing Follow up with your Labour Centre after 2–3 weeks
Missing employer forms Contact your employer promptly or escalate to Labour Centre
Not signing unemployment register Set reminders to visit every four weeks
Rejected claims Double-check documents before submitting

Additional Resources

  • Department of Employment and Labour: www.labour.gov.za
  • Toll-Free: 0800 030 007
  • Find Labour Centres: Search on the Department’s website

Okubalulekile:

  • I-UIF iyisivikelo saseNingizimu Afrika esinikeza usizo lwezezimali lwesikhashana kubasebenzi abalahlekelwa imisebenzi, abagula, abaya embelekweni noma ekuthathweni kwengane, noma ababhekene nezimo ezifanele
  • Uma usebenza okungenani amahora angu-24 ngenyanga futhi ukhokhela kule nkomo, cishe ufanelekile, kodwa hhayi uma ushiya umsebenzi ngokuzithandela noma usebenza kwezinye izindima zikahulumeni
  • Izibonelelo zifaka ukungasebenzi, ukugula, imbeleko, ukuthatha ingane, izibonelelo zobuzali, nokufa, zibalwa ku-38–58% wemali oyithola emasontweni ayisithupha, kuze kufike esilinganisweni
  • Ufaka isicelo eLabour Centre nge-ID yakho, imininingwane yasebhange, namafomu omqashi, kodwa ukubambezeleka noma amadokhumenti alahlekile kungakudonsa phansi
  • Wena nomqashi wakho niyakhokha u-1% wenkokhelo yenyanga ngayinye ukuxhasa i-UIF, enomkhawulo woku-R17,712 nyanga zonke kusukela ngoMeyi 2025

Iyini i-UIF?

Inkomo Yomsebenzi Engasebenzi (UIF) iyindlela yaseNingizimu Afrika yokusiza abasebenzi abahlangabezana nezinkinga, njengokulahlekelwa umsebenzi, ukuthatha imbeleko, noma ukugula kakhulu ukungakwazi ukusebenza. Iphethwe uMnyango Wezabasebenzi kanye Nezemisebenzi futhi inikeza usizo lwezezimali lwesikhashana ukuze uqhubeke. Cabanga ngayo njengohlelo lokusekela eniwuxhasa wena nomqashi wakho ndawonye, ukuze ungashiywa udwengulwe.

Imibandela Yokufaneleka

Ungaba yifaneleke uma:

  • Usebenza okungenani amahora angu-24 ngenyanga kumqashi
  • Wena nomqashi wakho niyakhokhela ku-UIF
  • Ungumsebenzi wesikhathi esigcwele, wesikhashana, noma osebenza ngezikhathi ezithile, kufaka nebasebenzi basendlini (kusukela ngo-Ephreli 2003)
  • Ulahlekelwa umsebenzi ngenxa yento ongenayo nayo (isb., ukwehliswa kwabasebenzi, isivumelwano siphela, noma ukuxoshwa), noma ufanelekele ukugula, imbeleko, ukuthatha ingane, noma umsebenzi wobuzali

Ngubani Ongeke Akwazi Ukufuna?

  • Abasebenzi abasebenza ngaphansi kwamahora angu-24 ngenyanga
  • Abasebenzi basemisebenzini kahulumeni kazwelonke noma yesifundazwe (isb., izisebenzi zikahulumeni)
  • Abantu abashiya imisebenzi yabo ngokuzithandela (ngaphandle uma kungenxa yokuxoshwa okwakhiwe, okudinga ubufakazi)
  • Abantu abazisebenzela noma abaqashise abazimele
  • Abasebenzi abathola imali yomhlalaphansi yabadala (nakuba bayaqhubeka nokukhokha kusukela ngo-2007)

Imisebenzi Nezibonelelo

I-UIF inikeza izinhlobo ezinhlanu zezibonelelo:

Uhlobo Lwesibonelelo Incazelo Isikhathi
Izibonelelo Zokungasebenzi Kulabo abalahlekelwa imisebenzi ngenxa yokwehliswa kwabasebenzi, ukuxoshwa, noma isivumelwano siphela Kuze kufike ezinsukwini ezingama-238
Izibonelelo Zokugula Uma ungasebenzi amasonto amabili nangaphezulu ngenxa yokugula Kuze kufike ezinsukwini ezingama-238
Izibonelelo Zembeleko Kubasebenzi abakhulelwe abathatha imbeleko Kuze kufike ezinsukwini ezingama-121
Izibonelelo Zokuthatha Ingane Komzali oyedwa othatha ingane ngokomthetho enengane engaphansi kweminyaka emibili Kuze kufike ezinsukwini ezingama-121
Izibonelelo Zokufa Zikhokhelwa kumyeni noma umfazi noma ingane encane yomkhokhi oshonile Inani elilodwa

Izibonelelo Zibalwa Kanjani:

Izibonelelo zisekelwe emalini oyitholayo emasontweni ayisithupha edlule, kuze kufike esilinganisweni se-R17,712 ngenyanga (R212,544 ngonyaka). Uthola ama-38–58% wemali oyithola nsuku zonke.

Inqubo Yokufaka Isicelo

Uhlu Lokuhlola Lwesicelo Se-UIF

Amafayela Adingekayo

  • Isazisi saseNingizimu Afrika noma iphasiphothi (i-ID enebhakodi noma esezingeni)
  • Imininingwane yasebhange (isitatimende sebhange noma incwadi eqinisekisa i-akhawunti yakho)
  • Ifomu le-UI-19 (elivela kumqashi wakho wokugcina, elibonisa umlando wokukhokha)
  • Ifomu le-UI-2.7 (ukuqinisekiswa komqashi kokungasebenzi, kwezibonelelo zokungasebenzi)
  • Amadokhumenti angeziwe athinta uhlobo lwesibonelelo (isitifiketi sezokwelapha, ubufakazi bokukhulelwa, njll.)

Izinyathelo Zokufaka Isicelo

  1. Hlola ukuthi uyafaneleka yini
  2. Qoqa wonke amadokhumenti adingekayo
  3. Vakashela iLabour Centre eseduzane nawe
  4. Thumela isicelo sakho kumphathi weLabour Centre
  5. Sayina irejista yokungasebenzi (kwezibonelelo zokungasebenzi)
  6. Linda ukuthi isicelo sakho samukelwe (amasonto ama-2 kuya kwayi-8)

Imininingwane Yokukhokha

I-UIF ixhaswa ngemali ekhokhwa yibo bobabili abasebenzi nabaqashi:

  • Izinga Lokukhokha: 2% yenkokhelo yenyanga (1% evela kumsebenzi, 1% evela kumqashi)
  • Umkhawulo: Imikhawulo yokukhokha ifinyelela ku-R17,712 ngenyanga
  • Inqubo Yokukhokha: Abaqashi bakhokhela i-SARS ngosuku lwesi-7 lwenyanga ngayinye

Izinselele Nezixazululo

Inselele Isixazululo
Ukubambezeleka ekucutshungulweni Landela neLabour Centre yakho ngemva kwamasonto ama-2-3
Amafomu omqashi angasekho Xhumana nomqashi wakho ngokushesha noma uye eLabour Centre
Ukungasayini irejista yokungasebenzi Misa izikhumbuzi zokuvakashela njalo emasontweni amane
Izicelo ezinqatshiwe Hlola kabusha amadokhumenti ngaphambi kokuthumela

Ezinye Izinsiza

  • UMnyango Wezabasebenzi kanye Nezemisebenzi: www.labour.gov.za
  • Ucingo olukhululekile: 0800 030 007
  • Thola amaLabour Centre: Sesha kuwebhusayithi yoMnyango