UIF Maternity Benefit South Africa — How to Claim (2026)
As a UIF contributor going on maternity leave, you are entitled to UIF maternity benefits — a monthly payment between 38% and 66% of your salary, for up to 121 days (17 weeks). You can claim even if your employer pays you a partial salary during maternity leave. Here is exactly how to do it.
Source: Department of Employment and Labour
Documents you need to claim UIF maternity benefit
Gather all documents before starting your claim — incomplete documents are the most common cause of delays.
| Document | What it is | Who completes it |
|---|---|---|
| South African ID | Proof of identity (13-digit bar-coded ID or valid work permit) | You |
| UI-19 form | Employer declaration showing maternity leave start date — use termination code "9" | Your employer |
| UI-2.7 form | Employer declaration of your salary history | Your employer |
| UI-2.3 form | Application for maternity benefits — must be signed by your doctor, confirming your pregnancy and expected due date | You + your doctor |
| UI-2.8 form | Banking details form — must include your bank account details; the bank may need to stamp/confirm | You + your bank |
| Salary schedule | Shows all salary changes from date of employment to present | Your employer |
| Declaration letter | On company letterhead, signed by an authorised person: confirms your employment status, maternity leave dates, and UIF contribution compliance | Your employer |
Do I qualify for UIF maternity benefit?
You qualify if ALL of the following are true:
- You are an employed female who has been contributing to UIF
- You are going on maternity leave and are receiving less than your normal salary during that period
- You have been employed for at least 13 weeks (and contributing to UIF) before your date of application
- You are a South African citizen with a 13-digit bar-coded ID — OR a non-resident with a valid work permit who has been contributing to UIF
Who is included:
- Salaried employees (full-time and part-time, if working more than 24 hours per month)
- Domestic workers — included since 1 April 2003
- Company directors and CC members who receive a salary or drawings and have contributed to UIF
- Employees on fixed-term contracts
Who does NOT qualify:
- Self-employed persons and independent contractors — you must be in an employment relationship with an employer who has registered and paid UIF contributions
- Workers who work fewer than 24 hours per month for an employer
- Public servants (different arrangement)
- Workers who only earn commission
- Employees whose UIF contributions have not been paid by their employer
Source: uif.labour.gov.za — Maternity Benefits page
How to claim UIF maternity benefit — step by step
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1
Register on uFiling
If not yet registered, go to ufiling.labour.gov.za → click "Register" → create profile with your ID number, email, and cellphone number.
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2
Log in
Log in to your uFiling account at ufiling.labour.gov.za.
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3
Navigate to Maternity Benefits
Select "Benefits" → "Maternity Benefits" → accept the Terms and Conditions.
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4
Confirm or update your banking details
Payments will be made to this account; accuracy is critical.
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5
Update your personal contact details
Ensure your current address and phone number are correct.
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6
Enter your occupation and qualification details
Fill in the required information as requested by the system.
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7
Indicate whether you receive any salary
If you receive a partial salary during maternity leave, you must state the amount your employer is paying.
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8
Upload your documents
Upload your UI-19, UI-2.7, UI-2.3 (signed by doctor), UI-2.8, salary schedule, declaration letter, and ID copy. Format: PDF or JPG, under 5MB each.
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9
Submit your claim
Review everything and submit. Save your reference number (received by SMS or on-screen).
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1
Find your nearest Labour Centre
Visit labour.gov.za → "Offices" to find the closest Department of Employment and Labour office.
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2
Bring all documents
Bring originals AND certified copies of all required documents.
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3
Complete the UI-2.3 form
Collect and complete the form at the Labour Centre (or download it beforehand) and ensure your doctor has signed it.
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4
Submit at the counter
Hand in your documents and you will receive a reference number.
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5
Send a representative if needed
If you cannot attend personally, you may send an authorised representative on your behalf.
After your initial claim is approved, you must submit monthly proof that you are still on maternity leave and have not returned to work — using the UI-4 (continued claim form) or via the uFiling portal.
Do not miss your monthly continued claim. If you fail to submit, your payments will be suspended.
How much UIF maternity benefit will you receive?
UIF maternity benefit is paid at between 38% and 66% of your daily income, using a sliding scale (the Income Replacement Rate). Lower earners receive a higher percentage. The rate is applied to your daily income, up to a maximum monthly ceiling of R17,712.
IRR (%) = 29.2 + (7173.92 ÷ (Daily income + 232.92))
Daily benefit = Daily income × IRR%
Monthly benefit = Daily benefit × 30.42
| Worked Example 1: Earning R15,000/month | |
|---|---|
| Daily income | (R15,000 × 12) ÷ 365 = R493.15/day |
| IRR | 29.2 + (7173.92 ÷ (493.15 + 232.92)) ≈ 39.1% |
| Daily benefit | R493.15 × 39.1% = R192.82/day |
| Monthly equivalent | R192.82 × 30.42 ≈ R5,866/month |
| Worked Example 2: Earning R25,000/month (above cap) | |
|---|---|
| Daily income | (R17,712 × 12) ÷ 365 = R582.37/day (capped) |
| IRR | 29.2 + (7173.92 ÷ (582.37 + 232.92)) ≈ 38% |
| Daily benefit | R582.37 × 38% = R221.30/day |
| Monthly equivalent | R221.30 × 30.42 ≈ R6,732/month |
Note: These are estimates. Actual UIF benefit amounts may vary based on your specific credit days and contribution history.
What if your employer pays you during maternity leave?
Many employers pay employees a partial salary during maternity leave — for example, 50%, 75%, or even 100% for part of the leave period. Here is how UIF handles each scenario:
| Employer pays | What you can claim from UIF |
|---|---|
| 100% of normal salary | Nothing — you cannot claim from UIF while receiving full salary |
| 75% of normal salary | The UIF benefit amount, limited to the remaining 25% difference |
| 50% of normal salary | UIF benefit calculated normally; combined with employer payment cannot exceed 100% |
| 0% (unpaid maternity leave) | Full UIF benefit based on your salary and IRR |
Your employer must declare any salary paid during maternity leave on the UI-19 or UI-2.7 forms. UIF calculates your benefit based on the shortfall between what your employer pays and your full normal salary.
Source: Rhodes University UIF guide; Department of Employment and Labour
Maternity benefit for miscarriage or stillbirth
If you experience a miscarriage in the third trimester or have a stillborn child, you can claim UIF maternity benefit for a period of up to 6 weeks to support your physical recovery.
How to apply:
The application process is the same as for a normal maternity claim. Instead of a birth certificate, you will need:
A note on first and second trimester:
The legislation specifically covers third-trimester pregnancy loss. For earlier losses, contact the Department of Employment and Labour directly on 0800 030 007 to discuss your specific circumstances.
What if you are retrenched or your contract ends while pregnant?
If your employment ends (retrenchment, dismissal, contract expiry) while you are pregnant or on maternity leave:
Claim MATERNITY UIF first → then claim UNEMPLOYMENT UIF after maternity benefits end.
If you claim unemployment UIF first, the system may register that you have drawn on your available credits — making it difficult or impossible to later access your maternity benefit.
Employees who resign while pregnant can still claim maternity UIF benefits — you are not excluded from the benefit simply because you resigned.
What you need in this scenario:
Your retrenchment or contract-end documentation may be required in addition to the standard maternity documents. Contact the UIF helpline on 0800 030 007 to confirm the specific documents needed for your situation.
How to check your UIF maternity claim status
uFiling
Log in at ufiling.labour.gov.za → Benefits → your claim status will be displayed.
USSD (no data needed)
Dial *134*843# → follow prompts → enter your ID number.
UIF Helpline
Call 0800 030 007 (toll-free, Mon–Fri). Have your ID and reference ready.
Subsequent payments are made monthly (once you submit your continued claim).
Frequently Asked Questions
Related guides
UIF Benefit types
Essential UIF guides
Calculators & tools
Sources and references
All UIF maternity benefit information on this page is sourced from, or verified against, the following official and authoritative references:
- South African Government — Maternity benefits from the UIF
- Department of Employment and Labour — Official Website and UIF Information
- Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001 — Primary legislation (Sections 24-26)
- uFiling Portal — Official online UIF system
This page was last reviewed in April 2026. Update when the Department of Employment and Labour changes benefit rates, forms, or processes.