UIF Maternity Leave Benefits in South Africa in 2025:Maternity leave is a crucial period that allows new mothers the necessary time to rest, recover, and care for their newborns without the immediate pressure of returning to work.
“In South Africa, maternity benefits are offered through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to help qualifying women with financial support during their maternity leave.”
– Department of Employment and Labour, South Africa
However, many women are either unaware of this support or encounter difficulties navigating the application process, resulting in missed opportunities to claim the benefits they are entitled to.
This guide aims to provide a clear and comprehensive overview of UIF maternity benefits in 2025. It covers key information such as eligibility criteria, benefit amounts, payment timelines, duration of benefits, and a step-by-step guide to submitting a claim.
Whether you are currently expecting or planning ahead, understanding your rights and the UIF maternity benefit process can help ensure a smoother and more financially secure transition into motherhood.
Overview of the UIF Maternity Leave Benefits
| Name of Program | UIF Maternity Leave Benefits |
| Administered By | Department of Employment and Labour |
| Country | South Africa |
| Time Duration | 4 Months |
| Application Deadline | Six months from the commencement of maternity leave |
| Mode of Payment | Online |
| Post Category | Finance |
| Official Website | labour.gov.za |
Who Is Eligible for the UIF Maternity Benefits?
Women who are working and paying into UIF can apply for maternity benefits when they get pregnant. But to qualify, you need to meet a few conditions:
- You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or a legal foreign worker with a valid work permit.
- Your employer should be paying your UIF contributions every month.
- You need to work more than 24 hours a month at your job.
- You can not be getting unpaid or partly paid maternity leave from your employer (UIF will not cover it in that case).
- You have to apply for the benefit within 6 months after your baby is born, adopted, or in cases of miscarriage or stillbirth.
Advantages of UIF Maternity Benefit
- Covers Part of Your Pay: It helps to make up for the salary you lose while you are on maternity leave.
- Less Money Stress: It gives you some financial support so you can focus on your health and baby without worrying too much about money.
- For Everyone Who Pays UIF: It does not matter if you are South African or a legal foreign worker, if you have been contributing to UIF, you can claim.
- Helps With Home Costs: It can help cover basics like groceries, rent, and baby stuff while you are off work.
Documents Required for the UIF Maternity Benefits
To claim your maternity money from UIF, you will need a few important documents:
- A certified copy of your ID or passport: Make sure it is clear and recently certified.
- A note from your doctor or midwife: This confirms your pregnancy and expected due date.
- Proof of your bank account: Like a stamped letter from your bank (so UIF knows where to pay your money).
- UI-2.3 form: This is the official form to apply for maternity benefits.
- UI-2.8 form: It is needed to allow the UIF to pay the money straight into your bank account.
- UI-4 form: Only if you are continuing to claim after the first payment (not always needed right away).
How Much You Can Get from UIF Maternity Benefits?
The amount you get from UIF during maternity leave depends on how much you earn. It works on a sliding scale between 38% and 60% of your salary. If you earn less, you will get a higher percentage. If you earn more, the percentage will be lower.
There is a limit though, payments are based on a maximum salary cap of R17,712 per month, so even if you earn more than that, UIF will only calculate based on that amount. Also, the money you get can’t be more than what you normally earn.
You can get payments for up to 121 days (around 4 months), depending on how many UIF credits you have built up. Once your application is approved, the money will be paid straight into your bank account.
Few Things to Keep in Mind
- Do not apply too early: Wait until you have officially started your maternity leave and are no longer getting your full salary before you apply.
- Employer mistakes on forms: Double check that your employer correctly marks your maternity leave on both the UI-19 and UI-2.7 forms, small errors can delay your claim.
- Bank account in your name only: UIF will not pay into a joint bank account. Make sure the bank account you use is in your name alone.
- Do not wait too long: You only have 6 months after your baby is born to apply for the maternity benefit, missing the deadline means you can not claim.
How to Claim Your UIF Maternity Benefits?
- Check you qualify: Make sure you are on maternity leave, have been paying UIF, and have enough credits built up.
- Get your documents ready: You will need a certified copy of your ID, proof of banking (like a stamped letter), a medical certificate from your doctor or midwife, and forms like UI-19 and UI-2.8.
- Log into uFiling: Go to ufiling.labour.gov.za, sign up or log in, update your details, and click on “Maternity Benefits.”
- Submit your documents: Upload everything online. If the system is down (which sometimes happens), you can hand them in at your nearest Labour Centre.
- Follow up often: Keep all your reference numbers safe and check your uFiling profile regularly to track progress.
FAQs for UIF Maternity Leave Benefits in South Africa in 2025
Anyone on maternity leave who has been contributing to UIF.
For up to four months (121 days), depending on your UIF credits.
Between 38% and 60% of your salary, based on how much you earn.
Yes, the less you earn, the higher the percentage you can receive.
UIF payments are capped at a monthly salary of R17,712.