Labour & UIF
How to Claim UIF Maternity Benefits
UIF pays maternity benefits for up to 17.32 weeks (about 4 months) if you took maternity leave and UIF contributions were paid on your salary. You can apply before or after the baby is born.
Who needs this
Pregnant workers or new mothers who took maternity leave and had UIF deducted from their salary.
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What you need before you start
- Bar-coded / Smart ID
- UI-19 completed by your employer
- UI-2.7 (remuneration while on maternity leave) if your employer pays partial salary
- UI-2.8 (bank details) stamped by the bank
- UI-2.3 (application for maternity benefits)
- Medical certificate or birth certificate
Step-by-step process
- 1Complete your claim forms
Get UI-2.3, UI-2.7 and UI-2.8 from your employer, uFiling, or a Labour Centre.
- 2Submit through uFiling or a Labour Centre
Upload documents via ufiling.co.za or bring the originals to your nearest Department of Employment and Labour office.
- 3Provide the birth or medical certificate
Applications made before the baby is born must be supplemented with the birth certificate after delivery.
- 4Receive monthly payments
Benefits are paid into your bank account for the approved period, up to 17.32 weeks.
Where, how much, how long
Where to submit
uFiling online or any Labour Centre.
Fees
Free.
Processing time
First payment usually within 4–8 weeks of a complete claim. TODO: confirm.
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Common rejection reasons
- Bank details not confirmed on UI-2.8
- Employer did not submit UI-19 to UIF database
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Official sources
Always confirm the latest requirements and fees on the official website before submitting.