How many months will I receive UIF UIF can be claimed for 12 months, provided that you have full credit days. Credits accrue as follows: for every four days that you work as a contributor, you receive one day’s credit, subject to a maximum of 12 months. To qualify for the full credit days you must have worked as a contributor for more than four years. The first step is going to a department of labour office to sign an unemployment register. You are then required to return every four weeks to sign the registry again and show that you still need unemployment benefits. The relevant forms are available directly from the department’s offices, or you can download them from labour.gov.za. You will also be given a white card by a UIF officer. You must ensure that you return to the office on the right date throughout the required four weeks. If you cannot make it due to illness, be sure to take a doctor’s note to the department Make sure your white card is signed by the officer on duty to record your visit If everything goes according to plan, you should start receiving your UIF benefit money within eight weeks of registering. Then, the money will be paid into your bank account every four weeks right up until the funds have been depleted. You will also receive a slip that shows you how much money you have received and how much is left. The maximum you will get is R6 730 a month. The sliding scale stops at R17 702: All workers earning more than this will only get the 38% maximum benefit (R6 730). The minimum amount will not be below the minimum wage (around R3 500). It will work on the same principle as maternity benefits. If a company can still afford to pay employees a part of their salaries, the TERS money will “top up” these payments – but employees can’t earn more than 100% of their current salaries.