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Estimate how much you can claim from the UIF if you lose your job. Enter your salary and how long you contributed to see your monthly payout, credit days and total benefit.
Last updated: 2026-05-11
If you have lost your job through no fault of your own, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) can give you short-term financial relief while you look for new work. This calculator gives you a quick, realistic estimate of what you can expect to receive.
Fill in your gross monthly salary and the number of months you contributed to the fund. We apply the same income replacement rate and credit-day rules used by the Department of Employment and Labour so your estimate is as accurate as possible.
Your salary before tax and deductions.
How long you have been employed and paying UIF (max 48 months counts).
Estimated monthly payout
R 4 877
This is an estimate. Your actual payout is confirmed by the UIF and depends on your verified contribution history and the days you claim for.
Your UIF unemployment benefit is not simply a fixed percentage of your salary. Two things decide how much you get: your income replacement rate (IRR) and the number of credit days you have built up.
The IRR is a sliding scale between 38% and 60%. Lower earners receive a higher percentage of their salary (up to 60%), while higher earners receive a lower percentage (down to 38%). This makes the benefit fairer for people on smaller incomes.
You earn one credit day for every four days you work and contribute to the UIF, up to a maximum of 365 days. Your credit days decide how long you can keep claiming, so the longer you have worked, the longer your benefit can last.
UIF benefits are capped. Only the first R17,712 of your monthly salary is used in the calculation, even if you earn more than that.
This UIF Calculator updates the result instantly as you type, so you can try different salaries and work periods to understand how they change your benefit.
You can usually claim the UIF unemployment benefit if you contributed to the fund and you lost your income for one of these reasons:
You must apply within six months of your last day of work, and you need to be available and actively looking for employment while you claim.
If you resigned voluntarily, your claim is usually declined. There are limited exceptions, such as constructive dismissal, which must be proven.
On a salary of R12,000, your income replacement rate is roughly 40.6%, which works out to a daily benefit of about R160 and a monthly payout of roughly R4,876. The exact figure depends on your verified contribution history.
You can claim for as many days as you have credit days, up to a maximum of 365 days (about 12 months) if you worked for four full years or longer.
No. UIF benefits are not subject to income tax, so the amount you receive is the amount that lands in your bank account.
You should apply as soon as possible and no later than six months after your last day of employment. Late applications can be rejected.
This UIF Calculator uses the same income replacement rate (38%–60%) and credit-day rules applied by the Department of Employment and Labour, so it gives a realistic estimate. The fund confirms the final figure using your official contribution records.
This UIF Calculator gives you a clear picture of what the UIF can pay you while you are between jobs, so there are no surprises when your claim is processed. Remember that the figure is an estimate: the fund confirms your final amount using your official contribution records.
Once you know roughly what to expect, the next step is to gather your documents and submit your claim. Our guide on what to do after calculating your UIF walks you through the whole process.