The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) was ready to receive claims for the parental benefits, the fund said on Thursday.
UIF Commissioner, Teboho Maruping, said the fund was ready and excited to receive claims for the parental benefits and provide the necessary financial relief to UIF contributors, while they spend time bonding and caring for their new child or children.
“It is all systems go. We have finalised the new forms to process claims and payments. Our systems have been upgraded to enable us to process the parental benefit,” he said.
The UIF would start processing claims for the new parental benefits to contributing and qualifying UIF beneficiaries from 1 November.
Qualifying UIF contributors could visit any labour centre in the country with the prescribed application form and support documents to submit for a parental benefit claim.
To submit a claim, applicants need an identity document, the child’s birth certificate with full details of parents and valid bank account details.
Benefit payment for the parental benefits is for a maximum of 10 days and calculated on a flat rate of 66 percent of the contributable remuneration.
Last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Labour Laws Amendment Bill into Act, which effected amendments to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Unemployment Insurance Act of 2001.
Through these amendments, UIF contributors will be eligible to claim for the fund’s new benefit.