Improved UIF systems mean relief benefits can now be paid directly into employee’s accounts

Department of Employment and Labour minister Thulas Nxesi has hailed the improved Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) systems which means workers can have their relief benefits paid directly into their accounts.

“We have now started paying workers directly to their bank accounts and not through employers only. What this means is that workers do not have to wait until employers transfer their benefits to their accounts. While the claim is submitted by the employer who would have all the information that is pertinent to make the payments, the actual payment goes straight to the account of the worker, thus eliminating a further waiting period,” said Minister Nxesi.

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“The fact that this week we paid 45 547 employees directly in claims submitted by 5 975 employers, to the tune of R211 million,  means that we are fine-tuning our systems and improving on our response times with regard to payments.”

Some 2 288 295 workers have been given relief during the lockdown which may be in lieu of or a top-up to their salaries. The total amount disbursed since April 16 is just below R13-billion.

If the application is complete, accurate and valid, at best the department will process payment within 24 hours and worst in 48 hours. We are working hard to ensure that our systems respond to and accommodate the needs of our prime stakeholders – the workers.

These improvements come on the back of other strides. For example, the call centre now has 500 agents who are handling up to 70 000 calls per day.

“We are now at a stage where 70 percent of those calls are attended to, on average, within three minutes. Again, we have listened and are making sure that our machinery is as smooth and seamless as possible,” said Minister Nxesi.

For more information, log on to the website or call the toll-free number, 0800 030 007.

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