UIF in South Africa: what you pay and what you can claim
Figures for the 2026/27 tax year. Prime rate checked 9 October 2026; tax tables and fees checked 30 September 2026. By AfroTech.
UIF, the Unemployment Insurance Fund, pays part of your income for a while if you lose your job, and pays maternity, illness and some other benefits. Here's what it costs you and how the benefits work.
What you pay
You pay 1% of your salary and your employer pays another 1%, on earnings up to R 17 712 a month.
| Monthly salary | You pay | Your employer pays |
|---|---|---|
| R 5 000 | R 50,00 | R 50,00 |
| R 10 000 | R 100,00 | R 100,00 |
| R 15 000 | R 150,00 | R 150,00 |
| R 17 712 | R 177,12 | R 177,12 |
| R 30 000 | R 177,12 | R 177,12 |
| R 60 000 | R 177,12 | R 177,12 |
Above R 17 712 a month, the contribution stays at R 177,12 each.
How many days you can claim
You build up one day of benefits for every 5 completed days you worked as a contributor, up to a maximum of 365 days in the past 4 years. Since 2017 you can claim again within that period, as long as you have credits.
How much UIF pays
- Unemployment benefits are a percentage of your earnings, from 60% for the lowest earners down to 38% as earnings rise, and capped at a maximum income level.
- The first 238 days are paid at that rate. Any credits after that are paid at a flat 20%.
- Maternity benefits are paid at 66% of your earnings, up to the same maximum.
Unemployment benefits are generally for people who lose their job through no choice of their own, such as a retrenchment or a contract ending, not when you resign. Apply to the Department of Employment and Labour.
UIF on your payslip
UIF is deducted after PAYE and shows as its own line. The take-home pay calculator includes it automatically.
Try it with your own numbers. The ZARWise calculator uses the same figures as this page.
See UIF and PAYE on your salary