How to apply for UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) benefits
The days of waiting for hours in queues to claim unemployment benefits are long gone thanks to uFiling. Here’s how you can apply for UIF.
If you’re unemployed or recently retrenched, you’re entitled to unemployment benefits. Here’s all the relevant information on how to apply for UIF.
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Thankfully, thanks to paperless submissions and digital technology, the days of waiting for hours and hours in queues to claim unemployment benefits are long gone. UIF’s digital uFiling system processes claims (almost) instantly, with the funds paid reliably into your bank account each month.
WHO CAN APPLY TO UIF?
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) offers short-term financial assistance to anyone who has recently become unemployed or is unable to work due to illness, maternity or adoption leave. The fund also assists the dependents of a contributing worker who has passed away.
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If you have been paying contributions to the fund and lose job or cannot work due to illness, injury, maternity or adoption you may apply for UIF benefits. In the first instance, you can claim unemployment benefits if you have been dismissed or retrenched, or your work contract has expired. However, you cannot claim for UIF if you have voluntarily resigned from your job.
MATERNITY, ADOPTION AND DEPENDENTS
You can also apply for UIF benefits if you are off work due to illness for more than 7 days. Benefits are paid from the date you stopped working. Maternity benefits can be claimed if you are pregnant and take maternity leave, this lasts for 17 weeks.
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If you adopt a child younger than two-years old and you leave work to look after that child, you are entitled to adoption benefits. Note that only one of the adopting parents can apply for benefits. You can apply for UIF if your wife/husband/child has died recently. You are entitled to claim dependents benefits if the deceased paid contributions to the unemployment fund.
HOW TO APPLY FOR UIF
- Visit the uFiling website HERE.
- Click on ‘Activate my uFiling account‘ and follow the on-screen instructions depending on what type of benefits you want to claim.
- Note that you will need a valid South African ID Number, current e-mail address and up-to-date banking details to which payment of benefits can be made.