UIF Maternity Benefits

The UIF maternity benefit is a financial support program designed to assist employed mothers during their maternity leave.

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It provides a portion of your income while you are unable to work due to childbirth.

This benefit helps close the gap between your salary and any paid maternity leave offered by your employer.

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Qualifying for UIF Maternity Benefits

To be eligible for UIF maternity benefits, you need to meet the following criteria:

  1. Be a contributor to the UIF: You must have contributed to the UIF for at least four of the six months before the expected date of birth.
  2. Be employed: You need to be employed at the time of applying and receiving a salary lower than your usual income due to maternity leave.
  3. Be registered with the Department of Labour: Both you and your employer must be registered with the Department of Labour.

You can still claim UIF maternity benefits if you resign during your pregnancy. This is the only instance where you can claim UIF benefits after resigning.

If your employer continues to pay your full salary while on maternity leave, you will not be eligible for UIF maternity benefits. However, you can still claim if you receive a partial salary.

Applying for UIF Maternity Benefits

The application process for UIF maternity benefits can be completed online through the uFiling system (https://ufiling.labour.gov.za/) or by visiting a Department of Labour office.

Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand:

  1. Your ID document
  2. Your UI number (found on your payslip)
  3. Proof of your expected due date (doctor’s certificate or maternity clinic card)
  4. Your banking details (for electronic payments)
  5. Completed UI-2.3 application form (https://www.labour.gov.za/parental-leave-forms)

You can only submit your application after you stop receiving your full salary from your employer.

The Department of Labour’s system cannot process applications before your maternity leave officially starts.

How Much Will You Receive?

The UIF maternity benefit amount is calculated as a percentage of your earnings, capped at a maximum amount set by the Department of Labour.

As of March 2024, the benefit ranges between 38% and 58% of your monthly earnings, with a ceiling of R12,478 per month.

This means that if you earn more than R12,478, you will receive the maximum benefit amount of R155.89 per day (approximately R4,676 per month).