Should you use an agency to claim maternity UIF?

From adjusting to new sleeping patterns to figuring out the best breastfeeding position, filling out maternity UIF documents might not be on your list of priorities.

While on maternity leave, some women receive less than what their usual salary is, and have to go through a long, time-consuming, and soul-draining process of claiming the little that they get. Unfortunately, you cannot claim for maternity benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) before you go on maternity leave. This means that it has to happen when your maternity leave commences.

Using an external agency may be a more feasible option for moms that can afford to do so.  Maternity UIF agencies will stand in those long queues and ensure that your applications are submitted timeously. They give you all the information you need to fill in the forms accurately. A lot of the time, moms don’t receive their money on time because they did not fill in a certain section properly. These are the forms that need to be filled in, accurately and eligibly;

• form UI-2.8 for banking details
• form UI-2.7
• form UI-2.3 (application form)

Before these forms and their supporting documents are submitted, an agency will check and you can fix what you need to before it is submitted to the department of labour.

How much does this cost?

Agencies charge a once-off fee, and the fees are not the same. They range in price from about R850 upwards.