If you already submitted a UIF claim through uFiling, your application was not lost. The Department of Employment and Labour closed uFiling to new employee claims on 20 May 2026, but everything submitted before that date was saved and is being moved into the new system. If you’re trying to submit a new claim now, do not use uFiling. Employees claim through UIF Online at uifonline.labour.gov.za. Employers declaring and paying UIF contributions still use uFiling as before, that part of the site hasn’t changed.
Why uFiling still lets you log in
uFiling has been around for years, so it ranks high in search and it’s the address people have bookmarked or saved. As of today, the old employee “How to Apply” page on uFiling still describes registering as an employee and submitting applications for unemployment, maternity, illness and adoption benefits, with a working Login and Register button, and no warning on that specific page. The homepage does carry a notice now, but not every page does.
Investigative reporting by GroundUp in May 2026 documented claimants who submitted new claims through the old site after it had already stopped processing them, then waited months without knowing their application had gone nowhere. The Department confirmed the employee claims portal closed on 20 May 2026 and said no submitted applications were lost, but that only covers claims made before the closure.
Are you an employee or an employer?
This is the fork that matters, and it’s easy to get wrong because both logins look similar.
You’re an employee claiming benefits. You lost your job, you’re on maternity leave, you’re ill, you adopted a child, or you’re a dependant of someone who died while contributing to UIF. You claim through UIF Online, not uFiling. See our full guide on how to claim UIF online for the step-by-step process.
You’re an employer or domestic employer. You’re declaring your staff’s earnings and paying their UIF contributions every month. You still use uFiling. Nothing has changed for this part of the site, and the Department says employer functions will only move across to UIF Online by August 2026.
If you claimed on uFiling before 20 May 2026
Your application is safe. The Department says everything submitted on the old system was stored separately and is being checked and migrated into UIF Online. You do not need to resubmit.
What to do instead of resubmitting:
- Check your claim status through UIF Online, using your existing UIF reference number if you have one.
- If UIF Online doesn’t recognise your claim yet, call the UIF Call Centre on 0800 030 007 and ask them to confirm your claim has migrated.
- Keep any confirmation emails, SMSes or reference numbers from your original uFiling application. You may need them to prove when you first applied.
If you tried to claim on uFiling after it closed
This is the trap. The old site may have given you a reference number and a message saying your application was received. That does not mean it was processed. If this happened to you:
- Go to UIF Online at uifonline.labour.gov.za and start a fresh claim today. Don’t wait to see if the old one comes through.
- Gather your documents again: your ID, a signed UI-19 from your employer, and your banking details. See our full checklist in our guide to claiming UIF online.
- Keep applying for work in the meantime. Delays on the old system don’t extend your six-month window to claim, so the sooner you’re on the correct platform, the better.
How to check which system your claim is actually on
If you’re not sure whether you used uFiling or UIF Online, these checks usually settle it, in order of how common the mix-up is.
- Look at the web address you used when you applied. uFiling is at ufiling.labour.gov.za. UIF Online is at uifonline.labour.gov.za. The names are close on purpose, which is part of the confusion.
- Check your confirmation email or SMS for the sender’s domain or any reference to “uFiling” versus “UIF Online”.
- Call the UIF Call Centre on 0800 030 007, weekdays from 07:30 to 16:00, and give them your ID number. They can tell you which system shows a claim under your name.
- If the phone lines are busy, dial 134843# for a free USSD status check, or visit your nearest Labour Centre in person.
What resolution looks like, and how long it takes
If your original claim was on uFiling before 20 May 2026, it should appear in UIF Online once the migration for your record is complete. The Department has not published a fixed timeline for every individual record, so check in rather than assume it’s stuck after a few days.
If you had to start again on UIF Online, treat it as a brand new claim from today. Our guide to UIF payment timelines covers realistic waiting periods and what to do if yours seems delayed.
Frequently asked questions
Is uFiling shutting down completely?
No. Only the employee benefits claims section closed, on 20 May 2026. Employer declarations and contribution payments still run through uFiling, and are due to move to UIF Online by August 2026.
I already have a uFiling login, do I need a new one for UIF Online?
Most employees need to register on UIF Online separately. If you have an old UIF reference number, enter it during registration so the system can link your history.
My uFiling application says “submitted”. Does that mean it’s being processed?
Only if you submitted it before 20 May 2026. If you applied after that date on the old site, treat it as not received and apply again through UIF Online.
I’m an employer. Should I still use uFiling?
Yes, for now. Keep declaring and paying contributions through uFiling until the Department confirms your functions have moved to UIF Online.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. If you believe a genuine claim has been lost or delayed through no fault of your own, raise it directly with the UIF Call Centre or your nearest Labour Centre and keep a written record of each contact.
Last checked: July 2026.