Guide to securing UIF benefits in South Africa for 2025

Here’s how to secure and safeguard your 2025 UIF benefits in South Africa, following recent legislative amendments. The sad reality of our stagnant economy is that, invariably, this is the time of year when many people will get retrenched. Therefore, we wanted to delineate how 2025 UIF benefits in South Africa work, who is eligible and explain how much financial assistance you can expect …

2025 UIF BENEFITS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) in South Africa serves as a crucial safety net for millions of South African workers. It provides financial support during periods of unemployment, maternity leave or unexpected illness and injury. However, many remain unsure about their 2025 UIF benefits in South Africa, and they miss out financially when they’re at their most vulnerable.

According to the SAgov.za website, all employees who work more than 24 hours per month must contribute towards UIF. Both the employer and employee each contribute 1% of the worker’s monthly salary – so 2% in total. These contributions create eligibility for 2025 UIF benefits in South Africa when retrenchment (or more) occurs.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Confirmed by the Western Cape Government website, the following employees are eligible for UIF benefits in South Africa, assuming they meet the 24-hours-per-month requirement:

• Full-time employees.
• Part-time workers.
• Domestic workers.
• Seasonal workers.
• Commission-based employees.

Notable exclusions from 2025 UIF benefits in South Africa are:

• Independent contractors and self-employed individuals.
• Government employees.
• Workers employed for less than 24 hours per month.
• Employees receiving old-age pension.
• Foreign workers on fixed-term contracts.

HOW ARE BENEFITS CALCULATED?

Even South Africans who’ve worked their whole careers might not know that UIF benefits are calculated on a sliding scale. Specifically, low-income earners receive a higher percentage of their salary once retrenched. So, for salaries up to R17 712, beneficiaries receive 38% to 60% of their average monthly earnings. The maximum monthly benefit is Capped at 60% of R17 712, or roughly R10 627.

This sliding scale means a worker earning R8 000 monthly might receive about R4 400 in UIF benefits. Alternatively, someone earning R20 000 each month will only be entitled to approximately R8 500 for unemployment.

The duration of 2025 UIF benefits in South Africa lasts for a maximum of 238 days (eight months). While maternity benefits are limited to 121 days (four months). Likewise, the number of maternity benefit days depends on the length of contribution period. Every four days worked accumulates to one day of benefits.

HOW TO APPLY

If you’re unemployed or recently retrenched and you meet the aforementioned UIF eligibility, there is now a paperless submission process. So, thankfully the days of waiting for hours in queues each month to claim unemployment benefits are behind us. Granted, there have been occasional technical glitches with the IT system, but for the most part the digital uFiling system processes claims instantly into your bank account each month.

To secure 2025 UIF benefits in South Africa applicants must do the following:

• Register on the Department of Labour’s UIF online portal HERE
• Click on ‘Activate my uFiling account’.
• Follow the on-screen instructions depending on what type of benefits you want to claim.
• Or visit a local branch within 12 months of stopping work.
• You will need the following:
• Valid ID document.
• Latest/last salary slip.
• UI-19 form from employer.
• Three-months recent bank statements.
• Proof of registration as work-seeker.
• For illness/injury benefits you require medical certification.

OTHER BENEFITS AVAILABLE

Did you know that child adoption and death benefits are also available? If you adopt a child younger than two-years old, you may leave work to look after that child. Note that only one of the adopting parents/partners can apply for this benefit. Similarly, you can apply for UIF if your wife/husband/child has died recently. And you are entitled to claim dependent benefits if it is the deceased that paid contributions to the unemployment fund and not you.

Likewise, you may also apply for UIF benefits if you are off work due to illness for more than seven days. All of the above benefits can be back-paid from the date you stopped working. You must, however, be able to prove you are actively seeking employment, accepting suitable work opportunities when they arise, and are not refusing training or career counseling.

Contact the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) tollfree on 0800 030 007 or email  uFiling@alteram.co.za for website queries and/or uifcallcentre@alteram.co.za for service-related queries.