UIF Bill Improvements

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Bill has been improved to allow those who lose their jobs to receive money for a longer period when they apply for unemployment benefits. The Bill has also implemented the follow amendments:

• Increased UIF benefits from 238 to 365 days;

• Employees can apply over 12 months instead of 6;

• Employees can apply for maternity leave benefits 8 weeks before delivery and up to 12 months after birth;

• Flat rate for maternity benefits is 66% of a woman's salary;

• Mothers who have lost their child in the last trimester qualify for maternity benefits;

• People on learnerships can apply for benefits

The Bill further provides for the dependents' benefits to be claimed by the spouse or minor children of someone who has died, who had been paying UIF contributions to the Fund.

The dependents of a decreased breadwinner now have up to 18 months in which to apply for the dependent benefit.

Lastly, illness benefits can be claimed if you are off work for 7 days due to illness and will not receive a salary from your employer.