You can check your UIF status and the contributions registered under your ID on the official UIF Online portal. The button below opens it, and this page shows what to look for in your record.
You will leave this site for the official UIF Online portal. Checking is free.
What your UIF record shows
UIF Online is run by the Department of Employment and Labour. Registered users can apply for UIF benefits and follow their applications, and the record shows the contributions your employers declared.
Each month 1% of your pay is deducted for UIF and your employer adds another 1%. Those contributions should appear for every month you worked, even for jobs you left years ago.
- Months registered: one entry for each month you worked and contributed.
- Amounts: roughly 1% of your pay for each month, up to the earnings ceiling SARS publishes.
- Employer names: every business that declared UIF for you under your ID number.
- Applications: the status of any unemployment, maternity or illness claim you lodged.
How to check online
- Open UIF Online. Use the button at the top of this page; it opens the official portal.
- Register once. First-time users sign up with their ID number and contact details and follow the steps the portal shows.
- Log in and open your record. Look for your contribution history and the status of any application.
- Compare with your payslips. Every UIF deduction on a payslip should match a registered month.
Enter your details only on the official portal, never through a link sent by a stranger. Emberfax never asks for your ID number, login or password.
Prefer to call?
The UIF call centre number is 0800 030 007. Have your ID number, a recent payslip and the names of your previous employers ready before you call.
If a month is missing
- Keep every payslip from each job, printed or as a PDF. It is your proof that the 1% was deducted.
- Ask in writing for a statement of the contributions registered for each period of employment.
- Go to a labour centre if the record and your payslips do not match, and ask what to do next.
Time limits to keep in mind
Unemployment claims must normally be lodged within six months of your last working day. Late claims can still be considered, but they need extra documents and old records are harder to trace.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to check my UIF status?
Yes. UIF Online and the UIF call centre are free. You should never pay anyone to see your own UIF record.
Do I need my SA ID number?
Yes. Your UIF record is linked to your South African ID number, so keep it and a recent payslip with you when you check.
What if I forgot which employers I worked for?
Your record lists the employers who declared UIF for you. Old payslips, bank statements and your tax certificates (IRP5) also help you rebuild the list.
Does checking my record mean I will be paid?
No. The record shows what was declared. The UIF decides every claim under the law and the contributor’s record.
Official sources
Independent-information notice: Emberfax is not the UIF, SARS, the Department of Employment and Labour or a government agency. We make no guarantee that any amount is owed or will be paid. Official instructions and legislation control.
