THE Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has paid out more than R14 billion in benefits to employees affected by the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

“The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), an entity of the Department of Employment and Labour has processed and paid Covid-19 TERS [ Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme] relief payments to the tune of R748 815 094.20 benefitting 149 263 workers, represented by 9 362 employers,” said UIF Commissioner, Teboho Maruping.

“This brings to 2 551 236 the total number of workers who have been given relief during lockdown which may be in lieu of or a top up to their salaries. The total amount disbursed since 16 April 2020 has now topped R14 billion (R14 079 099 409 20). This is over and above the payments that the UIF makes to ordinary benefit payments which now stand at R1 849 992 773 21.”

You may be interested: eThekwini Municipality opens revenue service centres

Maruping said that with all the necessary information and documents furnished, the fund is now paying beneficiaries 24-hours after the claim is made at best, or 48-hours at worst.

“We are quite pleased that we are now in a position to say that the systems are in place and I would like to pay tribute to the staff members who have worked around the clock to make it possible. We are now more confident in saying that we are on track to achieve our vision of a ‘caring, accessible and customer centric UIF that contributes towards poverty alleviation,” Maruping said.

However, Maruping noted that, this does not mean the system does not have challenges.

For more information on benefits, employers and employees can log on to UIF website or reach the UIF on the toll-free number 0800 030 007.

*Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news

Dear reader,

As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.

Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).

You can also sign up for news alerts on Telegram. Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5532.  

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.