When should I apply for maternity pay?

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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 bar-coded ID Book
  • Are a foreign national with a valid passport and meet basic UIF Maternity Benefit criteria
  • You pay UIF contributions on a monthly basis
  • 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
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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 salary for every six months they have worked.

More Information on UIF

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