UIF Lockdown Guide

SIMPLE GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS CLAIMING UIF BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES AFFECTED BY THE LOCK DOWN  

If your business is not deemed an essential service during the lock down and your employees are on temporary layoff or working reduced hours you, as employer, can apply to UIF for payments for those affected employees.

UIF has indicated that it will fund two (2) different benefits.  One it has termed a “Temporary Employee Relief Scheme” and the other “National Disaster Benefits”.

Please note that neither benefit will replace employee salaries in full i.e. it is not income replacement.  Under both benefits employees will only receive a percentage of their actual salary / wage or, with higher earning individuals, a percentage of a capped maximum salary/wage.  

TERS

The basic premise for the Temporary Employee Relief Scheme or TERS was published in the Government Gazette on 26 March 2020.  It is our understanding that this is already under review by Nedlac and that it intends publishing additional regulations in this regard shortly. We are therefore unable to provide definitive information in relation to TERS at this time. 

National Disaster Benefits from UIF 

In essence there are four categories for which such a benefit may be claimed, namely: (1) temporary lay-offs; (2) reduced working time; (3) Illness and (4) Death.

Below is a simple summary of how to go about claiming and what forms employers are required to complete and submit in each abovementioned instance. 

Temporary Lay-Offs:

If your employees are not working during the lock down and you are unable to pay them, you must complete and submit the following forms:

– UI 19 and UI 2.7 forms;

– UI 2.1 application form;

– UI 2.8 bank form;

– A copy of the affected employee(s) identity document; and

– A letter from your business, on a letterhead, confirming that the company has shut down or the employees are temporarily laid off due to the COVID 19 epidemic.

The Fund has requested that employers complete and submit forms on behalf of their employees in order to speed up the processing of applications and the distribution of funds.  Where you have completed the forms on behalf of your employees any amount(s) the Fund pays out will be paid into your business account. It is your responsibility to pay the money over to your affected employees and the Fund may well request proof of payment from you so please keep accurate records.

The UIF payments are not limitless, there is a cap. The most an employee will receive is R3500.00 per month for the first three months. Thereafter, no further payment will be made by Fund.

Reduced Working Time:

If you need to shut down your business for a limited period only or implement reduced working hours, you can claim for the Fund. In this instance the amount would be the difference between what the employer pays and normal UIF benefits payable to the employee should the employee’s employment be terminated. Please note that the pay out in this instance is also capped at R3500.00 per month for three months. Below are the relevant forms you must complete and submit on behalf of the affected employees:

– UI 19 and UI 2.7 forms;

– UI 2.1 application form;

– UI 2.8 bank form;

– A copy of the affected employee(s) identity document; and

– A letter from your business, on a letterhead, confirming the reduced work time due to COVID 19.

Illness:

Should your employee be quarantined for 14 days, you must submit a Confirmation Letter from both you and the affected employee, along with the application form, as proof that both parties have agreed to the 14 days as special leave. This Confirmation Letter will replace the usual medical certificate as the employee would be self-quarantined. Should the employee be quarantined for more than 14 days, a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner will then be compulsory and submitted with a Continuation Form – UI 3.

Below are the relevant forms you must complete and submit on behalf of the affected employees:

– UI 19 and UI 2.7 forms;

– UI 2.2 application form partially completed by the doctor;

– UI 2.8 bank form;

– A copy of the affected employee(s) identity document.

Death:

In this instance the benefits are paid to the beneficiaries of the deceased employee. Individuals eligible for this benefit are the employee’s spouse, life partner, children or other nominated persons. Employers must assist in submitting the following documents on behalf of the deceased employee to the Fund:

– UI 19 and UI 53 forms;

– UI 2.5 or UI 2.6 deceased application form;

– Death Certificate

– UI 2.8 bank form;

– A copy of the affected employee(s) identity document.

Forms must be submitted through the following methods:

– online at www.ufiling.co.za. This is for the Illness Benefit applications only

– via email or fax to the nearest UIF processing Centre. This is for all the other applications.  

Mailbox Fax to email Number 
Germiston.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397295 
Petermari.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397296 
EastLondon.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397299 
Capet.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397300 
George.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397301 
NorthWest.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397302 
Limpopo.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397303 
Mpumalanga.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397304 
Freestate.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397305 
Online.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397306 
Durban.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397297 
Portelizabeth.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397298 
NorthernCape.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397309 
Johannesburg.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397294 
Pretoria.BCP@labour.gov.za 0864397290