TYPES OF BENEFITS

employer and you lose one of your jobs; or

• Your employer dies.

ILLNESS

If you are ill and are unable to work for 14 consecutive days or more and you are not receiving a salary or are receiving only part of your salary, you can claim illness benefits for a maximum of 34 weeks, or 238 days.

MATERNITY

When you take maternity leave, you are entitled to claim maternity benefits for a maximum of 121 days. If you have a miscarriage in the third trimester, you can claim for six weeks (42 days).

You are also entitled to claim if your employer pays you only a portion of your normal wages or salary while you are on maternity leave. You should apply for maternity benefits when your employer stops paying your full wages or salary.

If you do not apply within six months of the birth of your child, the benefits will lapse.

The benefit is based on the period for which you were employed and contributed to the fund, and the income you were earning when you went on maternity leave.

ADOPTION

You can claim adoption benefits when you adopt a child under the age of two and take unpaid leave or receive only part of your salary while you are at home caring for the child. Only one partner or spouse may claim if a couple adopts.

You must apply within six months of the adoption order being issued. You are entitled to receive benefits for a maximum of 238 days. You can claim from the day the court orders the adoption until your benefits are used up, or you go back to work.

DEPENDANT BENEFITS

If your spouse or life partner who contributed to the UIF dies, you can claim a dependant benefit, even if you are employed. You must apply for the benefit within six months of your spouse or life partner’s death.

A child dependant of the deceased who is under 21, or a child of the deceased who is under 25 and who is a learner and who was wholly or mainly dependent on the deceased, can claim dependant benefits if the spouse or life partner does not claim within six months of the death.

Dependant benefits are payable for a maximum of 238 days; the benefit is based on the income the breadwinner was earning when he or she died.

WHO’S NOT ENTITLED TO BENEFITS

You are disqualified from receiving UIF benefits if:

• You receive payments from the Compensation Fund;

• You receive benefits from any other scheme established by the Labour Relations Act; • You resign from your job; • You fail to comply with the provisions of the UIF Act; • You refuse training or advice; • You are suspended from receiving benefits; or

• You claim benefits fraudulently.