UIF Calculator 2026
Enter your monthly earnings to see exactly how much UIF comes off your pay. You pay 1% and your employer pays a matching 1%, capped at a monthly earnings ceiling — this calculator does the maths and tells you if you’ve hit the cap.
Last updated: May 2026 · Source: SARS · Department of Employment and Labour
How the UIF Deduction Works
Every month, 1% of your earnings is deducted from your pay for UIF, and your employer adds a matching 1% — so a total of 2% of your earnings goes into the fund on your behalf. You do not pay the employer’s share; that is an extra amount they add on top of what comes off your payslip. The deduction is automatic, and you should see it as a separate line on your payslip every month.
The contribution is only worked out up to an earnings ceiling of R17,712 a month. If you earn less than that, you simply pay 1% of what you earn — so someone on R10,000 pays R100, and someone on R8,000 pays R80. If you earn more than the ceiling, your contribution is still based on R17,712, which is why the most that can ever come off your pay for UIF is R177.12 a month. In practice that means a person earning R18,000 and a person earning R45,000 pay exactly the same UIF, because both are capped at the ceiling.
What Counts, and Who Contributes
The contribution is based on your earnings excluding commission. It is your employer’s legal responsibility to deduct your 1%, add their own 1%, and pay the total over to SARS each month along with their other payroll taxes — you do not pay it across yourself. If you ever notice that no UIF is being deducted from your pay, it is worth raising with your employer, because unpaid contributions can affect your ability to claim later.
Almost all employees and employers must contribute, including domestic workers, who have been covered since 2003. The main exceptions are people who work less than 24 hours a month for a single employer, and employees in the national or provincial spheres of government, who fall under separate arrangements. Learners on certain contracts and some other narrow categories are also treated differently.
What Your Contributions Pay For
Paying these contributions is what builds your right to claim from the fund later. UIF does not only cover unemployment — it provides short-term relief in several situations: when you lose your job through retrenchment, dismissal or a contract ending; when you cannot work because of maternity, adoption or parental leave; and when you are unable to work for a long period because of illness. The fund also pays benefits to the dependants of a contributor who has died.
How much you can claim, and for how long, is not the same as what you pay in. It is based on what you earned while contributing and on how long you contributed, worked out on a sliding scale — lower earners get back a larger share of their pay than higher earners. This calculator deals only with the contribution side: what comes off your pay each month. For the benefit side, the Department of Employment and Labour calculates your exact entitlement when you claim.
Claiming From the Fund
When the time comes to claim, you do so either online through the Department of Employment and Labour’s uFiling portal or in person at your nearest Labour Centre. You will generally 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 pays not to delay. Our How to Claim UIF page sets out the full document list and the step-by-step process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much UIF do I pay?
You pay 1% of your monthly earnings, up to a maximum of R177.12 a month.
What is the maximum UIF deduction?
R177.12 a month, because contributions are capped at earnings of R17,712.
Does my employer also pay?
Yes — a matching 1%, so 2% of your earnings goes into the fund in total. You only pay your own 1%.
Is commission included?
No. UIF contributions are worked out on your earnings excluding commission.
How much will I get if I claim?
That is worked out differently, based on your earnings and how long you contributed. This calculator covers what you pay in, not what you can claim.
Related pages
📋 Verified — Official sources: SARS (UIF) · Department of Employment and Labour
⚠️ 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 on the official channels.
