Fund gives short-term relief to workers under certain conditions

ALL EMPLOYEES, with a few exceptions, have to be registered with the government’s social security programme. The fund is established to provide short-term relief to workers subject to certain conditions. If the workers become unemployed or unable to work because of illness, maternity or adoption leave, they can claim. There is also some relief for dependants of deceased contributors.

It must be remembered that you cannot claim if you resign. Workers who work less than 24 hours a month or public servants cannot register.

Workers who work on commission only or workers who are receiving compensation from the compensation fund cannot claim.

Employers are obliged to complete the form applying for the benefits and the applicant (employee) must apply for the benefits within six months of termination of employment or when the worker ceases to work because of illness.

Each worker will receive credits in the fund. This credit is calculated on the basis that for every six days you work as a contributor you receive one days’ credit subject to a maximum of 238 days credit.

In order to qualify for the maximum credits you must have worked continuously as a contributor for at least four years immediately preceding the date of the application.

In order to qualify for illness benefits, a medical certificate must be submitted to support that the worker has stopped working because of illness. Benefits are only payable in respect of periods of illness lasting longer than 14 days.

Benefits can be paid to a maximum of 238 days in any period of four years. The benefits are paid from the date from which the worker ceases to work and becomes fully or partially unpaid because of illness.

Maternity benefits will be paid following an application which should be made prior to the birth of the child or within six months of the birth of the child. The employee must be receiving less than the normal remuneration while on maternity leave.

The maximum amount of benefits that can be claimed is 121 days. In the event of a miscarriage or a still birth, benefits are only paid for a maximum period of six weeks after the miscarriage or the still birth.

Adoption benefits can be claimed after an adoption order has been issued by a court. The adopted child must be younger than two years and only one adopting parent can apply for the benefits. Again, this is payable from the date on which the adoption leave commences.

Death benefits can be claimed by the surviving spouse / life partner. This must be claimed within six months from the date of death of the contributor.

A dependant child can apply for benefits if the surviving spouse / life partner has not applied within six months of the contributor’s death.

Any child of the deceased who is between the age of 21 and 25 at the date of the death of the contributor may also qualify for benefits. The child has to be a learner / student and must have been wholly dependent on the deceased contributor. Other relatives do not qualify for benefits. It is vital to have the South African bar-coded ID as no other form of identification will be accepted.

UIF will not pay in cases of abscondment and if the employee has resumed work it would be fraudulent to claim from the UIF. Each worker’s salary slip must indicate that UIF is being deducted and if not, this should be investigated with the inspectorate of The Department of Labour.

On many occasions employees see that the deductions are indicated on their pay slips but these deductions are not paid to the Department of Labour. This must be immediately investigated and reported to the department.

An employer is obliged to pay the contributions before the seventh day of every month. The UIF call centre can be contacted at 0800 843 843 or 012 337 1680. The Department of Labour website is www.labour.gov.za