Calculator

UIF Payout Calculator

Work out what the Unemployment Insurance Fund will actually pay you, how many days you can claim, and the total value of your benefit.

Updated 22 July 2026 • By Thandi Mokoena • Fact-checked

How much UIF will I get?

UIF pays 38% to 60% of your salary, on a sliding scale where lower earners get the higher percentage. Salary above the R17,712 monthly ceiling is ignored, capping the unemployment benefit at roughly R6,730 per month. You earn one credit day per four days worked, up to 365 days.

Replacement rate: 38% - 60% of salary
Monthly salary ceiling: R17,712
Maximum benefit: ~R6,730 / month
Maximum claim period: 365 days

Work out your payout

Gross monthly salary

Months worked (last 4 years)

Credits only accrue from the past 4 years.

Benefit type

Unemployment Maternity Illness

Estimated monthly payout

RR4 876

Replacement rate

40.6%

Credit days

364 days

≈ 12.0 months

Total if fully claimed

RR58 378

Daily benefit RR160,38 × 364 payable days. Estimates only - the Department of Employment and Labour calculates the final figure.

How UIF calculates your benefit

UIF does not pay a flat percentage. It uses a sliding income replacement rate (IRR) that deliberately favours lower earners, set out in Schedule 3 of the Unemployment Insurance Act:

IRR % = 29.2 + (7,173.92 ÷ (daily income + 232.92))

Capped at 60%. Daily income = monthly salary ÷ 30.4, using the R17,712 ceiling.

Monthly salary	Replacement rate	Monthly UIF
R4 000	48.9%	RR1 955
R6 000	45.9%	RR2 752
R8 000	43.7%	RR3 493
R12 000	40.6%	RR4 876
R15 000	39.1%	RR5 862
R17 712	38.0%	RR6 730
R25 000 (above ceiling)	38.0%	RR6 730

Note how the rand amount stops rising above R17,712 - the ceiling caps everyone at the same maximum.

Credit days: 1 for every 4 worked

Every four days you work and contribute earns one credit day, capped at 365. About four years of continuous employment earns the maximum. Credits only count from the previous four years, and any days you already claimed are deducted from the balance.

What this calculator cannot tell you

Whether your employer actually declared your termination. If they have not submitted a UI-19, your claim stalls no matter what you qualify for.
Days already claimed in the past four years, which reduce your remaining credit balance.
Whether you resigned. Resignation normally disqualifies you from unemployment benefits entirely.
Processing delays. The figures here are entitlements, not a payment date.

Frequently asked questions

How much UIF will I get per month? +

UIF pays between 38% and 60% of your normal salary, on a sliding scale - lower earners receive the higher percentage. Earnings above the R17,712 monthly ceiling are ignored, so the maximum unemployment benefit is roughly R6,730 per month. Maternity benefits are paid at a flat 66% of salary.

How long can I claim UIF for? +

You earn one credit day for every four days worked, up to a maximum of 365 days. So roughly four years of continuous employment earns the full 365 days of cover. Maternity benefits run for a maximum of 121 days regardless of credits accrued.

What is the maximum UIF payout in South Africa? +

The contribution ceiling is R17,712 per month. At that salary the income replacement rate falls to about 38%, giving roughly R6,730 per month. Someone earning R5,000 receives a higher percentage - close to 55% - but a smaller rand amount of about R2,750.

Does UIF pay out in one lump sum? +

No. UIF is paid in instalments, usually monthly, for as long as you have credit days remaining and continue to meet the conditions. You must keep signing the continuation of benefits form at your Labour Centre or through uFiling.

How long does UIF take to pay out? +

A complete first claim typically pays within 2 to 8 weeks of approval. Delays are usually caused by an employer not declaring your termination on the UIF system, banking details that do not match your ID, or a missing UI-19 form.

Can I claim UIF if I resigned? +

Generally no. UIF unemployment benefits require that you lost work involuntarily - retrenchment, dismissal, or a contract ending. Resignation normally disqualifies you, although constructive dismissal findings can be an exception.

Full guide

UIF benefits: all 7 types explained

Salary after tax calculator