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In January 2017, former President Jacob Zuma assented to the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act of 2016, and on 23 November 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the Labour Laws Amendment Act of 2018, paving the way for the implementation of the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act from January 2019. The act was amended following extensive consultations with various stakeholders to improve service delivery by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
The UIF, as a caring organisation, understands the current economic situation and unemployment in the country, as well as the devastating impact that is appended to losing a job. We are optimistic that the new amendments are poised to ease the financial encumbrance on workers and deliver a variety of new and improved benefits.
Here's all you need to know about the new and improved UIF benefits.
TYPES OF BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THE FUND
• Unemployment benefits
• Dependants/Death benefits
• Maternity benefits
• Adoption benefits
• Illness benefits
CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
You can claim for up to 365 days instead of 238 if you worked for a continuous four-year period, i.e. Pay the first 238 days on a sliding scale between 38 % to 60%, and then from 239 to 365 days at a flat rate of 20%
MATERNITY BENEFITS
Benefits are payable at a flat rate of 66% to a female contributor, for confinement or the period after birth of a child.From 8 weeks before the child is born to 12 months after the child’s birth.
WHEN BECOMING UNEMPLOYED
You have 12 months instead of 6 months to submit an application for unemployment benefits.
CLAIMING ILLNESS BENEFITS
Benefits are paid from the date on which the worker ceases to work and becomes fully or partially unpaid because of illness.If you have been sick for 7 consecutive days instead of 14 days.
DEPENDANTS/DEATH BENEFIT
You have up to 18 months to submit an application for death benefit. Permission to nominate beneficiaries in the case of death benefit, provided there is no surviving spouse, life partner or children.
NO FEES FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS
No agency or person purporting to act on behalf of an applicant will be allowed to charge a fee for submitting an application for UIF benefits.
DECLARING INFORMATION
Every employer must declare information in respect of their employees on a monthly basis.
CONTACT DETAILS
UIF Call Centre: (012) 337 1680
Toll free number: 0800 843 843
Website: www.labour.gov.za
Claim UIF Benefits online: www.ufiling.co.za
