These benefits are for employees who lose their jobs because they have been dismissed or retrenched, or when the employees’ contract expires. If an employee resigns from the job then they will not qualify for benefits unless the employee can prove it was a constructive dismissal.

To get unemployment benefits the employee must satisfy the following conditions:

• The employee has been contributing to the fund and money has been deducted from his or her salary for uif every month
• The claim must be made within 6 months of becoming unemployed
• The claim must be made on the proper form
• The employee has been unemployed for more than 14 days
• The services of the employee were terminated (dismissal or retrenchment or insolvency of the employer) by the employer and the employee did not resign (unless they can prove it was constructive dismissal)
• The employee is registered as a work seeker with a employment office in terms of the Skills Development Act, 1998 (the employee must be capable of and available for work)

Benefits will be paid for a maximum of 238 days (34 weeks) or for the number of days credits that the person has built up during the 4 years leading up to the application for benefits. The employee must report at times and at places that the claims officer determines in order to sign the unemployment register and he/she must undergo training and vocational counselling if the claims officer tells him or her to do this. If the contributor refuses to do this without a good reason, he/ she will not be entitled to benefits. Employees who leave to go and study or to go on pension cannot claim UIF, because they are not available for work. Employees who go on a company, Bargaining Council or civil pension can claim UIF, as long as they say they are still available, able and willing to work.