Labour & UIF
Claim UIF after retrenchment, illness, or maternity, and understand your rights and required documents under the Department of Employment and Labour.
Ready to claim UIF?
Official application links, unemployment claim steps and a document checklist to print before you apply.
Open the UIF claim guideQuick UIF estimator
Work out roughly what you pay into UIF every month, and what the Fund could pay you if you claim. UIF pays a daily amount, so the monthly figure below is an average. This is an estimate only — the Department of Employment and Labour uses your declared salary history.
How this works in plain English
- UIF is 1% off your salary plus 1% from your employer, so 2% in total goes to the Fund.
- Contributions are capped at a salary of R17 712.00 per month — the most you can pay is R177.12 a month.
- Benefits pay between 38% and 60% of your daily income — lower earners get the higher percentage. Maternity benefits pay a flat 66%.
- You earn 1 credit day for every 4 days you worked and contributed, up to 365 days in a four-year cycle. Maternity claims run for up to 121 days.
- You must claim within 12 months of your last day of work.
UIF rules: what we checked and when
Every figure the estimator uses comes from an official source below. We re-check these against the Department of Employment and Labour and uFiling, and stamp the date here so you can see how fresh the numbers are.
Contribution rate (1% + 1%)
ReviewedEmployees contribute 1% of remuneration and employers add another 1%, so 2% in total reaches the Fund.
In force: Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, 2002
Department of Employment and Labour — UIFEarnings ceiling (R17 712 per month)
ReviewedContributions and benefits are calculated on a maximum of R17 712 per month, capping the employee contribution at R177.12.
In force: 1 June 2021
Government Gazette notice on the UIF contribution ceilingIncome replacement rate (38%–60%)
ReviewedBenefits slide from 60% of daily income for the lowest earners down to 38% at the ceiling. Maternity benefits pay a flat 66%.
In force: Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act, 2016
Department of Employment and Labour — UIF benefitsCredit days (1 day for every 4 worked, max 365)
ReviewedYou accrue one credit day for every four days of contributions, up to 365 days in a four-year cycle. Maternity claims run up to 121 days.
Department of Employment and Labour — UIFClaim deadline (12 months)
ReviewedA claim must be lodged within 12 months of your last day of work, at a Labour Centre or on uFiling.
uFiling (official online UIF service)
If a rule changes between our reviews, the official source above always wins. This panel is a guide, not a determination of your benefit.
Showing 1–5 of 5 guides
Free Government Help to Find a Job: SAYouth, ESSA and NYDA Explained
Free government job-seeker support in South Africa: how to use SAYouth.mobi (zero data), register on ESSA with the Department of Employment and Labour, and get NYDA support — plus job scam warnings.
What Are My Employee Rights in South Africa?
Plain-English guide to employee rights in South Africa: working hours, leave, dismissal, unfair labour practice, and how to refer a dispute to the CCMA.
How Are Jobs Created in South Africa?
Plain-English explainer on how jobs are created in South Africa: private sector growth, the EPWP, the Presidential Employment Stimulus, and why unemployment stays above 33%.
How to Claim UIF After Retrenchment
Claim UIF benefits after retrenchment. Required forms (UI-19, UI-2.8), where to submit, and how long payments take.
How to Claim UIF Maternity Benefits
Claim UIF maternity benefits during your maternity leave. Forms, medical certificate, and how much you can expect to receive.