UIF unemployment claims are now made on UIF Online. This guide covers who qualifies, what to prepare, the steps in order and what happens after you submit.
In May 2026 the Department of Employment and Labour confirmed that worker claims had closed on the old uFiling system. The uFiling home page now sends claimants to uifonline.labour.gov.za. Claiming is free, and you can also apply in person at a labour centre.
This is an independent guide. It cannot see your record or submit anything for you.
On this page
- Check that you qualify
- Documents to prepare
- Claim on UIF Online, step by step
- How much UIF pays
- After you submit
- If something goes wrong
- Frequently asked questions
1. Check that you qualify
You can usually claim unemployment benefits when all of these are true:
- Your employer ended your job, or your contract expired.
- UIF was deducted from your pay. Look for the UIF line on your payslips.
- You are registered as a work-seeker and you are available to work.
- You apply within 12 months of the day your job ended.
You generally cannot claim if you resigned or absconded. The exception is a constructive dismissal that you prove at the CCMA. You also may not work and claim at the same time.
2. Documents to prepare
Get these together before you open the portal. Missing paperwork is a common reason claims stall.
- ID or passport. Your 13-digit South African ID, or a valid passport.
- Form UI-19. Your employer’s declaration that you no longer work there, with the reason your job ended.
- Salary schedule or payslips. Proof of what you earned in your last six months.
- Form UI-2.8. Your banking details, completed by your bank. Use an account in your own name.
- Proof of work-seeker registration with the Department of Employment and Labour.
- Form UI-2.11, only if you took a voluntary severance package or early retirement.
3. Claim on UIF Online, step by step
- Open the portal yourself. Type uifonline.labour.gov.za into your browser. Check that the address ends in labour.gov.za.
- Register. Choose Register and follow the prompts. The form starts by asking whether you have a UIF reference number.
- Log in and start a claim. Choose the option to claim UIF benefits, then select unemployment.
- Enter your details exactly. Use the same names and numbers that appear on your ID and bank account.
- Review, then submit. Read every screen before you confirm. Check your banking details twice.
- Save your reference. Write down the reference number and the date. You need both to follow up.
If you cannot finish online, take the same documents to your nearest labour centre.
You will leave this website for an official government site. Free to use.
4. How much UIF pays
UIF does not replace your full salary. It works like this:
- Rate. Between 38% and 60% of your average pay over your last six months. Lower earners get the higher percentage.
- Ceiling. Pay above R17,712 a month is not counted. At the ceiling, the benefit is about R221 a day.
- Days. You earn one day of benefits for every four days you worked, up to 365 days. Four years of contributions gives the full 365.
- Step-down. The first 238 days are paid at your sliding-scale rate. Days 239 to 365 are paid at a flat 20%.
You stay on this website.
5. After you submit
- Track your claim. Log in to UIF Online, dial *134*843# for free, or call 0800 030 007. Have your ID number and reference ready.
- Confirm each month that you are still unemployed. The UIF calls this a continuation of payment. Missing it can interrupt your payments.
- Report new work straight away. Tell the UIF as soon as you start a job. You may not work and claim at the same time.
Read next: four official ways to check your UIF claim status.
6. If something goes wrong
- Your employer will not give you a UI-19. Ask your labour centre for help. Employers are required to declare their workers to the UIF.
- UIF was deducted but never paid over. Keep your payslips as proof and report it at a labour centre.
- Your claim is refused. Ask for the reason. You can appeal with form UI-12 at the labour centre that handled the claim.
- The portal gives an error. Do not submit the same claim again and again. Call 0800 030 007 or visit a labour centre.
7. Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to claim?
Twelve months from the day your job ended. Benefits count from the day after your job ended.
Can I claim UIF if I resigned?
Generally not. The exception is a constructive dismissal that you prove at the CCMA.
Can I still claim on uFiling?
No. uFiling no longer processes worker claims. It still serves employers who declare and pay contributions.
How long can UIF pay me?
For as long as you have credit days and stay unemployed, up to 365 days. You earn one credit day for every four days worked.
Does this website process claims?
No. This is an independent guide. Only the UIF can receive, approve and pay a claim.
This website is an independent information site. It is not the UIF or the Department of Employment and Labour, and it is not affiliated with any government body. Only the UIF decides who qualifies and how much is paid. We never ask for payment.
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