UIF South Africa
UIF South Africa — the Unemployment Insurance Fund — is the safety net that pays you short-term income when you lose your job or cannot work because of maternity, illness or other covered reasons. If you are employed, you and your employer both pay into it every month. This section explains what the fund is, what it pays for, how much you contribute, and how to claim, in plain language.
Last updated: May 2026 · Source: SARS · Department of Employment and Labour (uFiling)
What Is UIF?
The Unemployment Insurance Fund gives short-term financial relief to workers when they become unemployed or are unable to work because of maternity, adoption or parental leave, or illness. It also helps the dependants of a worker who has died. It is funded by monthly contributions from employees and employers, collected by SARS and administered by the Department of Employment and Labour. You contribute while you are working, and you draw on it when you genuinely cannot earn — that is why it is “insurance,” not a grant.
Both you and your employer each contribute 1% of your monthly earnings, so 2% in total goes into the fund on your behalf. Contributions are only calculated up to a monthly earnings ceiling, so even high earners pay the same capped amount.
UIF at a Glance
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Employee contribution | 1% of earnings |
| Employer contribution | 1% of earnings |
| Total into the fund | 2% of earnings |
| Monthly earnings ceiling | R17,712 |
| Maximum employee contribution | R177.12 |
If you earn more than R17,712 a month, your contribution is still worked out on R17,712 — so the most that comes off your payslip for UIF is R177.12 a month.
What You’ll Find in This Section
- UIF Benefit Calculator — estimate how much you could receive and for how long.
- UIF Contribution Table — the contribution rate, the earnings ceiling, and what comes off your pay.
- How to Claim UIF — the documents you need and how to claim online or at a Labour Centre.
- Guides — plain-language explainers on how UIF works, maternity benefits, and claiming after losing your job.
Who Contributes and Who Can Claim
Almost every employee and employer must contribute to UIF, including domestic workers. The main exceptions are people who work less than 24 hours a month for an employer, and employees in the national or provincial spheres of government. It is the employer’s job to deduct your 1%, add their own 1%, and pay it over each month.
Any worker who has been contributing can claim when they become unemployed through no fault of their own — for example through retrenchment, dismissal or a contract ending — or when they cannot work because of maternity, adoption or parental leave, or illness. You generally cannot claim ordinary unemployment benefits if you resigned. How much you receive and for how long depends on your earnings and how long you contributed, which the calculator in this section works through for you.
How You Claim
You claim either online through the Department of Employment and Labour’s uFiling portal, or in person at your nearest Labour Centre. You will need your ID, your banking details, and a UI-19 form from your employer confirming your employment and why it ended. Claims must be submitted within 12 months of your employment ending, so it is important not to delay. The How to Claim page in this section walks through the full document list and the step-by-step process.
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📋 Verified — Official sources: SARS (UIF) · Department of Employment and Labour (uFiling)
⚠️ This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. KnowMyGovt is not affiliated with the UIF, the Department of Employment and Labour, SARS, nor the South African government. Always confirm current rates and rules on the official channels.
