Beyond maternity, UIF also supports parents through adoption and parental leave — benefits many people do not even know exist. If you are adopting a child or taking parental leave, you may be entitled to claim.
If you adopt a child below a certain age and take leave to care for them, you can claim adoption benefits, provided you contributed to UIF. Where two adoptive parents are involved, one may claim the adoption benefit and the other the parental benefit — they cannot both claim the full adoption benefit for the same child.
Parental benefits support a parent taking parental leave around the birth or adoption of a child — for example, a father or the non-birth parent taking time off. It is a shorter benefit than maternity but follows the same principle: partial income replacement while you are on leave.
Benefits use the UIF income replacement scale, capped at the R17,712 ceiling, for the leave period the law allows. The exact days differ between adoption and parental leave, with adoption generally allowing a longer claim than parental.
Apply through uFiling or a Labour Centre, following how to claim UIF online. For the related maternity benefit, see our maternity guide.
Suppose Lerato adopts a young child and takes adoption leave while earning R10,000 a month. Her benefit follows the income replacement scale — about 42% of her income, roughly R4,200 a month for the leave period the law allows. Her partner, taking the shorter parental leave, can claim a parental benefit separately.
Apply around the time you actually take the leave, not months later. You will need proof of the adoption order or the child's details, plus your UI-19 and banking details.
Maternity uses a flat 66% rate; adoption and parental benefits use the standard sliding scale. If you are a birth mother, the maternity benefit applies instead.
Yes. If you adopt a child below the qualifying age, take leave to care for them and you contributed to UIF, you can claim adoption benefits.
It supports a parent taking parental leave around the birth or adoption of a child, such as a father or non-birth parent, with partial income replacement for the leave period.
Not the same full benefit for the same child. One parent may claim the adoption benefit and the other the parental benefit.
It uses the standard income replacement scale capped at R17,712, paid for the leave period the law allows, with adoption generally allowing a longer claim than parental leave.
General information and estimate-based explanation, not financial or legal advice. Confirm with the Department of Employment and Labour or SARS.