Can I Apply for UIF Without a UI-19? – South Africa Guide

• Updated 11 August 2025

Short version: YES, but the claim will stall until the Department of Employment and Labour can confirm your employment and contribution history.
Use the work-arounds below to speed things up and avoid weeks of “Pending” status.

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1. Why the UI-19 matters

• Employer’s proof you were employed and contributed.
• Dates & salary used to calculate your daily benefit.
  Without it, SARS and DoL must reconstruct the data.

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2. Fast-track substitutes (in order of strength)

Substitute	What it proves	How to get it
EMP201 print-out from SARS eFiling	Monthly salary & UIF contribution per PAYE number	SARS eFiling → Returns → EMP201 (last 4 years)
IRP5 / IT3(a)	Annual salary & UIF code 4141	SARS MobiApp → Tax certificates
Bank statements	Salary deposits and amount	Download from banking app
Payslips	Gross salary & any UIF deduction line	Ask HR or search e-mail
Sworn affidavit	Your statement why UI-19 is missing	Commissioner of Oaths or police station

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3. Upload process on uFiling (mobile)

1. Log in → UIF Benefits → Apply
2. At “UI-19” step, choose “Missing UI-19 – alternative documents”
3. Upload the strongest substitute first (EMP201 or IRP5) + affidavit
4. Tick the box “Request DoL to source data from SARS”
5. Submit → claim status shows “Pending – Verification”

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4. How DoL fills the gap

• They auto-match your ID against SARS PAYE data.
• If the match is clear, processing continues (adds ±2 weeks).
• If data is incomplete, an agent phones you for more docs.

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5. Pro tips to avoid delays

• EMP201 + IRP5 together = fastest combo.
• Affidavit template (free at police station): state employer name, period worked, reason UI-19 missing.
• Follow up weekly on WhatsApp 060 012 3456 with your ID and case number.

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6. Common SA Google searches

• “Apply UIF without UI-19 South Africa”
• “EMP201 as proof for UIF claim”
• “UIF affidavit template download”
• “DoL verify UIF contributions via SARS”

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Bottom line
You can lodge a UIF claim without a UI-19, but attach EMP201/IRP5 plus an affidavit and tick the “source from SARS” box. The claim will still process—just budget an extra 2–4 weeks for verification.