What is UIF?
The UIF, or Unemployment Insurance Fund, provides financial relief, on a short-term basis, for those who either become unemployed or who can’t work due to illness, maternity or adoption leave.

It is also available to dependents of deceased contributors.
All employees and employers are responsible for contributing to this fund, except for those who:
- Are employed for fewer than 24 hours per month.
- Those who receive remuneration under a contract as contemplated in section 18(2) of the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act.97 of 1998).
- Anyone employed within the national or provincial spheres of government.
- Anyone entering South Africa for the purposes of fulfilling a contracted service, learnership or apprenticeship.
- Certain political leaders or members of municipal councils, traditional leaders, etc.
For more information on UIF, visit http://www.labour.gov.za or contact 0860 010 5350.
CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT
You can lodge
In order to make a claim of unemployment from the UIF, you need to follow these simple steps:
- You will need to bring along the following documents:
- Your ID or passport
- The UI-2.8 form for your banking details
- The UI-19 form that states you’re no longer working, as well as proof of registration as a work-seeker.
- You’ll need to locate your closest Labour Centre to hand in the documents.
- The staff at the Labour Centre will take you through the processes you need to follow to complete the application. It’s important to remember that the staff may request that you attend training or that you visit the Labour Centre at specific dates and times. If you don’t follow their instructions, you might not be able to make a claim.

CLAIMING MATERNTITY BENEFITS
In order to claim for maternity from the UIF, you’ll need to follow these steps:
- You will need to bring along the following documents:
- Your ID or passport
- The UI-2.8 form for your banking details
- The UI-2.7 form
- The UI-2.3 application form
- A medical certificate from your doctor or the baby’s birth certificate
- The UI-4 follow-up form.
- Visit your local Labour Centre. In the event a pregnant woman is too ill to attend the Labour Centre herself, she can send someone else.
- The staff members at the Centre will then assist the applicant in completing the rest of the documentation. In some instances, they might request that the pregnant woman visit the doctor again, or even visit the Labour Centre at specific dates and times. It’s important to follow their directions or the application could be denied.
Below are links to UIF documents:
Unemployment
UI19
UI 2.8 (BANK AUTHORISATION)
SALARY SCHEDULE
Maternity
UI19
UI 2.8 (BANK AUTHORISATION)
SALARY SCHEDULE
UI2.3 (MATERNITY BENEFITS)
UI4
UI2.7 (REMUNERATION WHILST EMPLOYED)