It’s not cheap to have kids in SA. The time you’ll take off work to care for your newborn might be yet another unexpected expense you’ll have to recover in some way. But that’s where maternity benefits come in. You just have to know when and how to claim it!
About South Africa’s Maternity Benefits
In SA, working moms get up to four months of paid maternity leave. In order to take care of your newborn without too many financial worries, you’ll need to fill in a few documents and pay a visit (or three) to the Department of Home Affairs. But here’s a rough guide for new moms looking to claim UIF maternity benefits:
You can claim UIF Maternity Benefits if:
- You are a South African citizen in possession of a valid green barcoded ID Book
- Are a foreign national with a valid passport and meet basic UIF Maternity Benefit criteria
- You pay UIF contributions every month
- You are adopting a kid under the age of two years old
- Are self-employed, and you are a member of a Closed Corporation or a Company
You can NOT claim UIF Maternity Benefits if:
- You work less than 24 hours a month for any given employer
- You are a student
- You work as a public servant
- You receive a monthly state pension
- You only earn commission
Documents you’ll need to claim UIF Maternity Benefits
After the birth of your baby, you will need a total of 8 documents in order to apply for and claim maternity benefits in South Africa. These include:
- Two recent payslips
- A bank statement
- An original ID or passport or a certified copy of either one of these documents
- Banking details and a completed form UI-2.8
- A completed UI-2.7 form, completed by your employer, stating a record of all the funds you received as an employee during your time of employment
- A completed form UI-2.3, which is the UIF Maternity Benefits application form
- A medical certificate or your baby’s birth certificate as proof that you actually had a baby
- A completed form UI-4 (follow up form), which ensures the continuation of payment of maternity benefits
Where to claim maternity benefits in South Africa
New moms will have to go to their nearest labour centre in order to submit the documentation before they can receive maternity benefits.
You can expect compensation of between 38% and 58% of your gross monthly salary when applying for your UIF Maternity Benefits. New moms are entitled to between one and four month’s compensation for every six months they have worked.
Are you looking to start a new venture?
Now that your baby is part of your life, you might be looking for a more flexible job opportunity. Why not head over to Adzuna’s career listings and start searching for your dream job today?
