The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is a mandatory social security contribution that provides short-term financial relief to workers who become unemployed, ill, or go on maternity leave. Every employed person in South Africa — and their employer — must contribute to UIF.
How UIF Contributions Work
Both employees and employers contribute 1% of the employee's monthly remuneration to the UIF. This means a total of 2% goes into the fund for each worker — 1% deducted from your salary and 1% paid by your employer on top of your salary.
There is a monthly earnings ceiling for UIF contributions. For the current period, the ceiling is R17,712 per month. This means the maximum monthly UIF contribution for an employee is R177.12, regardless of how much they earn above the ceiling.
Who Must Contribute?
Almost all employees in South Africa must contribute to UIF, including:
- Full-time employees
- Part-time employees
- Domestic workers
- Seasonal workers
Certain categories are exempt from UIF contributions:
- Workers who work fewer than 24 hours per month
- Learners under learnership agreements
- Workers in national or provincial government who are covered by separate schemes
- Foreign workers on contracts approved by the Department of Employment and Labour
UIF Benefits You Can Claim
If you lose your job or cannot work, the UIF provides several types of benefits:
Unemployment Benefits
If you are retrenched or your contract ends, you can claim unemployment benefits. The benefit is calculated as a percentage of your previous salary (between 38% and 60%, with lower earners receiving a higher percentage). You can claim for up to 365 days, depending on how long you contributed.
Illness Benefits
If you cannot work due to illness for more than 14 consecutive days and your sick leave is exhausted, you may claim illness benefits from UIF.
Maternity Benefits
Female employees can claim maternity benefits for up to 17.32 weeks. The benefit rate is the same as unemployment benefits — a sliding scale based on your salary.
Adoption and Commissioning Parental Benefits
Parents who adopt a child under the age of two, or commissioning parents in a surrogacy arrangement, can claim parental benefits.
Dependants' Benefits
If a UIF contributor passes away, their dependants can claim a benefit from the fund.
How to Claim UIF
To claim UIF benefits, you need to register at your nearest Department of Employment and Labour office or apply online through the uFiling system. You will need your ID document, your UIF reference number (on your payslip), and your employer's details. For unemployment benefits, you also need proof that your employment was terminated.
Checking Your UIF Contributions
You can check your UIF contribution history through the uFiling portal or by visiting a labour centre. Your employer is required to submit UIF declarations and payments to the UIF on a monthly basis. If your employer has not been paying your UIF contributions, you should report this to the Department of Employment and Labour.
Use our salary calculator to see exactly how much UIF is deducted from your salary each month.