Everything you need to know about UIF and lockdown

 

Claiming under the Temporary Relief Scheme

Under the temporary relief scheme, a company that has been forced to shut may apply to the UIF for funds to help it to pay its employees. The fund will pay an approved amount to the employer for a period of up to three months. The employer must, in turn, pay the funds over to the employees. Where the employer belongs to a Bargaining Council, the council will distribute the money.

The amounts that the UIF will pay will work on a sliding scale of between 38% for the biggest earners to 60% for the lowest earners. The maximum amount is capped at R6730 and the minimum is R3500, the equivalent of the minimum wage. 

Unemployed people or employees on reduced hours wanting to register for UIF can apply for the benefit online during the lockdown. If you’ve been sent home because of the lockdown, your employer will have to apply on your behalf. This is because it will be easier for the fund to deal with the 1.5 million companies registered with it than to deal with the millions of workers adversely affected by the Corona virus. 

By late last week 27 000 applications had been made for assistance and the UIF says that it will start to pay out this week. The UIF will take up to ten days to review all applications. They have set aside R30 billion for Covid-19 claims. 

Employers who have had to send their workers home must inform the UIF by emailing the [email protected]. They will automatically receive a package of document requirements which they must then complete and submit. The email will contain instructions on how to claim.