UIF Forms
The UIF forms you need depend on what you’re claiming and whether you apply online or on paper. Some forms are completed by you, some by your employer, and one by your bank. This page explains what each of the main forms is for, who fills it in, which forms go with which claim, and where to download the official versions.
Last updated: May 2026 · Source: Department of Employment and Labour
How UIF Forms Work
If you claim online through the Department of Employment and Labour’s uFiling portal, much of the information these forms capture is entered electronically, so you may not need the paper versions at all. The paper forms are mainly for claiming in person at a Labour Centre, and for the parts only your employer or bank can complete. The forms come in a numbered “UI” series — for example UI-19 and UI-2.1 — and each one has a specific job. Using the right form for your claim, fully completed, is the single biggest thing that gets a claim approved the first time.
The Main UIF Forms
| Form | What it’s for | Who completes it |
|---|---|---|
| UI-19 | Declares your employment, earnings and why you left | Employer |
| UI-2.1 | Apply for unemployment benefits | You |
| UI-2.2 | Apply for illness benefits | You |
| UI-2.3 | Apply for maternity benefits | You |
| UI-2.7 | Declares pay received during maternity leave | Employer |
| UI-2.8 | Authorises payment into your bank account | Your bank |
| UI-4 | Continues maternity payments after the first one | You |
Death (dependant’s) and adoption benefits use their own application forms in the same UI series — ask at the Labour Centre or find them in the official forms centre linked below.
Which Forms You Need for Each Claim
For an unemployment claim, you complete the UI-2.1, and your employer provides the UI-19. For a maternity claim, you complete the UI-2.3, your employer completes the UI-2.7 to show what they’re paying you during leave, your bank completes the UI-2.8 for your account details, and the UI-4 is used to continue payments after the first one. An illness claim uses the UI-2.2 together with a medical certificate. In every case the UI-19 from your employer is the backbone, because it confirms your employment and that contributions were paid — without it, a claim cannot be processed.
Where to Download the Official Forms
Always download forms from the Department of Employment and Labour itself, not from third-party sites. Here are direct links to the most commonly needed forms, plus the official forms centre where you can find all of them:
Submitting Your Forms
You submit completed forms at your nearest Labour Centre, or apply online through uFiling, which captures the same information without the paper. Make sure every form is fully completed and signed, that your employer’s UI-19 has been submitted, and that your banking details are correct, since errors here are the most common reason claims are delayed. Keep a copy of everything you hand in. Forms must not be post-dated, and an unemployment claim must be lodged within 12 months of your employment ending.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UI-19 form?
It’s the employer’s declaration confirming your employment, earnings and why you left. Your employer completes it, and it supports almost every UIF claim.
Which form do I use to claim unemployment?
The UI-2.1, the application for unemployment benefits, together with the UI-19 from your employer.
Do I need paper forms if I apply online?
Often not. uFiling captures the same information electronically, though your employer’s and bank’s parts still need to be in order.
Where should I download UIF forms?
Only from the Department of Employment and Labour’s official site, using the links above — never from third-party sites.
Related pages
📋 Verified — Official sources: Department of Employment and Labour (forms) · 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, nor the South African government. Always download forms from the official site and confirm current requirements there.
