UIF Status Check Online | 3 Fast Methods To Know Your Claims

The Department of Labour and Employment, a South African government machinery, regulates the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). It is a monetary relief given to employees and employers facing potential job crises due to their sudden illness, death of breadwinners, or maternity leave. A new advanced framework “Siyaya” has recently been launched to simplify the process of getting UIF benefits.
The article below explains 3 simple and effective steps to check UIF status online. I have also explained the eligibility criteria and detailed procedure to claim UIF through the uFiling portal.

How to check UIF status online: 3 best methods

I have discussed 3 simple yet effective steps to check UIF payments’ status online. These methods require little technical knowledge. If you have a seamless internet connection, they are a breeze.

How to check UIF payment status on the uFiling platform

Open a secured browser on your device and visit the uFiling portal. Then, log in to your account using the user ID and password.
Now, locate the “Online service” tab on the home screen and click “UIF services”.
You will find a pop-up menu on your display and choose “UIF status” from that pop-up menu.
If the status displays zero, it means the Rand you have paid as contributions are rejected. Otherwise, complete a captcha test and proceed to the next step.
Now, you enter your UIF reference number or UIF pin to check all the details regarding your claim.

How to check UIF status using your phone

The Department of Labor introduced a phone service to check UIF status for those individuals who are not technically sound and unable to go to labor centers. Here, a toll-free number is used to check the status. The process is straightforward. Just dial 012-337-1680 and you will receive all the information. After dialing the number, you MUST put your UIF reference number and ID proof. The labor center staff will authenticate your details and inform you of the current status.

How to check UIF status using the USSD method

Checking UIF payment status using USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is the easiest process. The Department of Labor and Employment introduced the USSD code (*134*843#). All you need is dial the code on your cellular phone and you will see a menu on your phone display. Once you enter your reference number, the status of your payments and expected payment date will be shown.

How to apply for UIF benefits using the uFilling portal?

Check your internet connectivity before beginning the process. Open Google Chrome or Firefox on your device and visit the official uFiling website.
If you are new to this process, just register on the portal and create your account.
You will be given a unique ID and password to log in. After logging into your account, click on the “Benefit a[application and payment” button.
A drop-down menu will appear on the display and click on the “apply for benefit” tab from that drop-down menu.,
Before proceeding to the next step, read the “terms and conditions” carefully”.
Now, provide bank details (bank account name and number) on the respective field and click “yes” to proceed to the next step.
Now, you will be asked to provide your valid passport or government ID number.
Now, provide your previous work experience and degrees of qualification.
Choose the region where you stay and your nearest labor center.
Once you fill up all the information, check again for confirmation. Now, submit your form and a notification will be sent to your device.

Requirements and guidelines to apply for UIF benefits in South Africa

The UIF application process is simple. Just gather the following documents and credentials and you are good to go! Once you submit all the required documents, the Department of Labor will process your documents’ legitimacy and confirm your need.

Whether you are a South African citizen or a foreign national, you need to have a passport or a 13-digit national smart card.
If you are seeking a job, you must have a job seeker permit to avail the benefits.
You need to submit a legitimate termination letter to confirm the valid reason for your dismissal from your job.
Submit valid payslips for the last six months and the UI-2.8 form to verify your bank account name and number.
To provide details of your work experience and employment history, it is essential to submit a UI-19 form.
If you are claiming illness benefits, you must provide a valid medical certificate issued by the registered medical practitioner to confirm the nature and enormity of your illness.
To avail of adoption benefits, you need to submit a UI-2.4 application form along with a court order to verify your adopted child’s age.
To receive death benefits, beneficiaries need to submit a death certificate issued by a registered doctor and proof of relationship with the breadwinner.

Who will be eligible for UIF benefits?

I have mentioned a detailed list of eligibility requirements. Kindly follow the list before considering in which category you fall.

As an employee: Both full-time and part-time employees can submit a claim for UIF benefits. For that, they need to contribute 2% of their monthly earning to the UIF. After providing 2% of the earnings, you can check your net salary using the UIF and PAYE calculator. On the UIF portal, you can see the “Employment option” tab. You can access your claim history and declaration status by clicking the tab.
As a domestic or foreign employer: A domestic or foreign employee operating a business in South Africa must have a valid and latest declaration form to claim UIF.
As a practitioner: if you are a practitioner from an MNC, you must possess a declaration form on your employer’s behalf. Your employer usually manages all your records.
As adopting parents: The South African government has introduced special UIF benefits for parents who are adopting children under 2 years. The purpose is to promote adoption countrywide. The adoption procedure is lengthy and you can take unpaid leaves during the process. The government will bear all your expenses through adoption benefits.
Deceased contributor: if a family’s breadwinner passes away before retirement or takes voluntary retirement, his or her children are eligible to claim UIF benefits.
Maternity leave benefits: Employees who require maternity leave during pregnancy can submit a claim for UIF benefits.
Unemployed due to illness: If an employee faces temporary dismissal from a job due to illness, he or she can apply for UIF benefits. The government will cover the expenses of those eligible to claim UIF illness benefits.

The number of UIF claims in 2024

Statistics	Value
Total UIF payouts in 2024	R 38 billion
UIF payments made (2024)	R 33 billion
Total UIF contributions	R 48 billion
Total UIF claims	9.1 million
Total approved UIF claims	92% of total claims
Total rejected claims	3% of total claims
Percentage of pending claims	5%
Total number of registered UIF beneficiaries	5 million
Claims made online	70% of total claims
Claims made by mobile	45% of online claims

How to check if you are registered for UIF benefits

Visit the uFiling portal website and access your account by providing login credentials.
Now, press the “Employment tab” and submit your details.
After that, a menu will appear on display, and navigate to the “view my UIF contributions” button.
Now, click on the “get declaration” tab that you will find in a dialog box.

What to do if the USSD code does not work?

The Unstructure supplementary service data or USSD code is the most convenient way to check Unemployment insurance fund status online. You access the status from your home without going to the labor center. However, various technical; glitches disrupt the process and this is a common problem. Do not need to worry! Just follow the instructions below:

While typing the USSD code on your cellular device, make sure you have entered the right digits. If you mistakenly enter any wrong digit, it will not work.
If your internet network causes the problem, it will hamper the process.
Sometimes the USSD server undergoes maintenance, disrupting the process. Just wait for a while until the problem is addressed.

Bottom lines

In summary, if you follow the steps mentioned in the article, checking UIF status will be a cakewalk for you. By checking your status regularly, you can monitor your contributions, unemployment benefits, and many more. If you find our article helpful and valuable, share it with your friends and let them know the right way to check UIF status online.