The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated South Africa into a more digitally savvy society. More and more people are completing tasks online which in the past would have required them to complete in person.
One of these tasks is applying and claiming benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). The UIF provides short term relief to workers who require their income to be supplemented after being retrenched or taking time off from work.
The UIF offers benefits for a wide range of circumstances. These include unemployment benefits, reduced work time benefits, maternity benefits and death benefits.
They also offer the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) Benefits and the Workers Affected (WABU) by Unrest Benefits.
You can also apply and claim for UIF benefits online. The UIF also pays the money received from a contributor's benefits directly into their bank accounts for certain benefits.
These claims can be submitted via the UIF’s uFiling system.
However, the UIF does not take death benefits or reduced work time benefits online. Reduced work time benefits must be done via an Email to the provincial BCP email address.
If you have been employed for more than 24 hours per month, you are required by law to register with the UIF. Each month, 2% of your gross salary must be contributed to the fund. Your employer pays 1% and the remaining 1% is deducted from your salary.
These contributions add up and should you require financial assistance from the UIF, you will be able to claim from the fund.
