UIF Calculator
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate UIF — contributions (1% employee + 1% employer, capped) and the benefit the fund pays when you’re unemployed: the sliding 38-60% income replacement rate across your credit days.
Quick answer: Contributions: 1% + 1% of salary up to the ceiling (~R17,712/month — verify current). Benefits: a sliding Income Replacement Rate — ~60% for low earners down to 38% at the ceiling — paid over credit days (1 day per 4 worked, max 365).
Contributions (The Easy Half)
1% from you + 1% from the employer, on salary up to the ceiling — maximum ~R177 each side per month. Deducted via payroll; domestic workers and most employees are covered.
Benefits (The Formula Everyone Gets Wrong)
The Income Replacement Rate (IRR) slides: IRR = 29.2 + (7173.92 ÷ (232.92 + Y)) where Y is your monthly salary ÷ 30.42... practically: ~60% replacement near minimum wage, falling to ~38% at the ceiling. Daily benefit = daily income × IRR, capped at the ceiling’s daily rate. You draw it across credit days: 1 per 4 days worked, max 365 over the last four years.
Worked Example
R18,000/month (at/above the ceiling): daily income ~R582 (capped), IRR ≈ 38-40% → ~R230/day ≈ R7,000/month, for up to 365 credit days with a full 4-year work history.
Claim Types
| Unemployment | Dismissal/retrenchment/contract end — NOT resignation (narrow exceptions) |
| Maternity | Up to 121 days at ~66% — separate from unemployment credits |
| Illness / Adoption / Dependants | Own scales and documentation |
Claiming Without the Queue Horror
uFiling online beats labour-centre queues; claim within 6 months of termination; documents: UI-19 from the employer (chase it at exit — the missing UI-19 is THE delay), ID, bank proof. Employers failing to register/remit face penalties, and workers can report non-compliance — payslip deductions without fund remittance is theft the fund pursues. Pair exit math with severance: retrenchment triggers both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is UIF?
1% of salary from you + 1% from the employer, capped at the ceiling (~R177 each at ~R17,712 — verify current).
How much does UIF pay when unemployed?
A sliding 38-60% of your capped salary — higher replacement for lower earners — across credit days (1 per 4 worked, max 365).
Can I claim UIF if I resign?
Generally no — dismissal, retrenchment, and contract expiry qualify; resignation only in narrow constructive-dismissal rulings.
How long do UIF benefits last?
Your credit days: up to 365 with 4 full years of contributions — drawn until exhausted or re-employment.
What is the UI-19?
The employer’s termination declaration the claim needs — insist on it with your final documents; missing UI-19s cause most payment delays.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026