Last Updated on September 21, 2023 by ufiling
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is a South African government program that provides temporary financial assistance to workers who have lost their jobs due to retrenchment, dismissal, or company closure. The duration of UIF payments is determined by the length of the worker’s previous employment and the reason for their job loss.
If an employee was retrenched or their company closed down, they are entitled to receive UIF payments for a period of up to 12 months. This means that they will receive monthly payments for up to one year after losing their job. However, if the employee finds new employment during this period, their UIF payments will be terminated.
If an employee was dismissed from their job, they are entitled to receive UIF payments for a period of up to six months. This means that they will receive monthly payments for up to six months after losing their job. However, if the employee is able to successfully challenge their dismissal and get their job back, their UIF payments will be terminated.
It’s important to note that the amount of UIF payments a worker receives is based on their previous earnings, with a maximum amount of R17,712 per month. Additionally, to qualify for UIF payments, workers must have contributed to the UIF for at least 13 consecutive weeks prior to their job loss.