UIF covers more than job loss and maternity. If you’re off work sick for an extended period, if you’ve legally adopted a young child, or if a contributor has died and left dependants behind, there are separate UIF benefits for each. Illness benefits kick in once your unpaid sick leave passes two weeks. Adoption benefits work like maternity, for one parent of a child under two. Death benefits go to a surviving spouse, and after that, to dependent children. Each has its own timing and documents, covered below.
Illness benefits
Who qualifies. You’ve been off work due to illness or injury for more than two weeks, you’re not receiving your normal wages during that time, and the illness wasn’t caused by your own misconduct or by unreasonably refusing treatment your doctor recommended.
How much you get. The same sliding scale as unemployment benefits, between 38% and 60% of your capped salary, and it draws from the same credit days (one day for every four days you’ve worked, up to 365). See our guide on the payout formula for the full maths.
The two-week gap. The first two weeks of any illness aren’t covered. But if your illness runs longer than two weeks and you weren’t paid during those first two weeks either, you can be backpaid for that period once your claim is approved. If your employer paid you normally for the first two weeks, there’s nothing to claim for that stretch anyway. [VERIFY: one official-adjacent source states this waiting period as seven days rather than two weeks; the two-week figure is better corroborated across independent sources, but confirm before publishing.]
How to claim. A medical certificate is the document that makes or breaks this claim. Ask your doctor to state the exact dates you were unable to work, not just that you were “unwell.” A vague certificate is the most common reason illness claims get sent back. Apply through UIF Online the same way as any other claim, selecting illness as your benefit type, and include your ID, UI-19, banking details and the certificate. If you’ve also lost your job during this period, tell UIF directly, since you may qualify for unemployment benefits for whatever period isn’t covered by illness benefits.
Adoption benefits
Who qualifies. You’ve legally adopted a child younger than two years old, and you’ve taken leave from work to care for them, receiving less than your normal wages during that time. If two parents adopt together, only one of them can claim.
How much you get. The same sliding scale and salary cap as other benefits, based on your own contribution history.
When to apply. Apply as soon as possible after the adoption order is issued by the court. [VERIFY: sources disagree on the exact deadline, some say six months after the adoption order, others twelve, so confirm the current figure with UIF directly rather than relying on either number, and don’t wait to find out.]
A note on parental leave changes. Since October 2025, adoption leave is meant to be shared between adoptive parents as part of a broader parental leave shift, and the age cap of two years has been found unconstitutional but is still in effect while Parliament updates the law. The UIF Act itself hasn’t been amended yet, so UIF is still paying adoption benefits under the old rules described here. If you’re the second adoptive parent rather than the primary claimant, confirm your specific options with a Labour Centre, since this is genuinely unsettled territory right now.
Dependants’ (death) benefits
Who qualifies. If someone who was contributing to UIF dies, their surviving spouse or life partner can claim. A dependent child can also claim if the spouse hasn’t claimed within the first 12 months of the 18-month window. A child of the deceased between 21 and 25 can also qualify, if they were a full-time student and wholly dependent on the deceased.
The timeline. A surviving spouse or life partner has 18 months from the date of death to claim. If they haven’t claimed within the first 12 months of that window, a dependent child can claim instead, using whatever time is left.
How much. The amount is based on the deceased’s own UIF contribution history, using the same formula as other benefits.
Documents needed. Generally, the death certificate, the claimant’s ID, proof of the relationship to the deceased (a marriage certificate, or a child’s birth certificate), and banking details. [VERIFY: the exact current form numbers for a dependants’ claim, since older paper-based guidance may not match the current UIF Online process.]
How to claim. Apply through UIF Online where possible, or at your nearest Labour Centre if the online process doesn’t fit your situation. Given the sensitivity of these claims, a Labour Centre visit is often the more practical route, since staff can guide you through exactly what’s needed for your specific family situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim illness benefits and unemployment benefits at the same time?
Not for the same period, but if your illness overlaps with losing your job, tell UIF about both. You may be able to claim illness benefits for the sick period and unemployment benefits for what follows.
Does adoption benefit work the same as maternity benefit?
Similarly, both use the same salary cap and are for taking leave to care for a new child, but they’re separate benefit types with their own rules on qualifying, so don’t assume identical figures without checking.
What if there’s no surviving spouse to claim a death benefit?
The claim passes to a dependent child, and in some cases a student child aged 21 to 25 who was wholly dependent on the deceased.
Do these benefits use the same UI-19 and documents as unemployment claims?
The core documents overlap, ID, banking details, and confirmation from the employer, but each benefit type has its own additional proof: a medical certificate for illness, an adoption order for adoption, and a death certificate for dependants. See our guide to the UI-19 form for the basics that apply across all benefit types.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Dependants’ claims in particular often involve family and legal complexity beyond what a general guide can cover. Your nearest Labour Centre can advise on your specific situation.
Last checked: July 2026.