Pretoria: Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth has reassured workers and beneficiaries that no Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) applications have been lost following the closure of the legacy employee claims portal.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Department of Employment and Labour issued a statement on Monday confirming that the UIF online platform, launched on 1 April 2025, has improved access to services and accelerated claims processing. The new system replaced the legacy filing employee claims portal, allowing for direct client submissions, real-time tracking of claims, and automated communication throughout the claims process.
The department highlighted that the platform simplifies and accelerates claims processing by enabling direct client submissions, real-time claim tracking, and automated communication throughout the claim lifecycle. The system supports a self-service model, eliminating the need for third-party agents to assist claimants with submissions.
The implementation of UIF Online has yielded positive results, with 4,558,971 claims successfully processed and paid by April 2026. This compares with 4,099,522 claims processed during the same review period in 2023 and 3,547,006 claims in 2024 under the legacy filing system. The department emphasized that these figures demonstrate the effectiveness of the new platform in improving access to benefits and enhancing service delivery.
Furthermore, the department has rolled out a nationwide communication and stakeholder engagement program to raise awareness about UIF Online. The campaign included awareness drives through media platforms, guidance and support at Labour Centres, engagements with stakeholders across all provinces, and the deployment of call center agents to assist clients with the migration to the new platform.
The legacy filing platform consisted of two separate components: the employee claims portal and the employer portal. The employee claims portal was officially closed on 20 May 2026 after resolving legal and contractual disputes linked to the old system and completing the required handover process. The department assured that applications submitted through the old platform remain secure and are being stored in a separate database, analyzed, verified, and migrated to the new online platform.
Meanwhile, the employer portal remains operational, handling employer registrations, declarations, and contributions. These services are expected to migrate to UIF Online by August 2026, marking the completion of the transition from the legacy uFiling platform.
Minister Meth warned against the spread of misinformation relating to the UIF migration process, urging public representatives to ensure the accuracy of the information shared with the public to maintain public confidence and prevent unnecessary panic.