To check your UIF claim status in South Africa, start with the official UIF Online portal, dial the free USSD code *134*843#, or call the UIF call centre on 0800 030 007.
Employee benefit claims are no longer processed on uFiling. The uFiling homepage tells employees to use uifonline.labour.gov.za for UIF benefit applications. Employers still use uFiling for contributions and declarations.
Need to lodge a new claim first? See XTRAfrica’s guides on UIF Online claims after the uFiling change and how to claim UIF unemployment benefits online.
Official portals and contacts
UIF Online — employee benefit applications and online account
UIF Online login — sign in if you already registered
uFiling — employer contributions (not for new employee benefit claims)
Free USSD: dial *134*843# for claims/payment status and related UIF options
UIF call centre: 0800 030 007 (also shown as 08000 30007 on the UIF Online site)
What you need
SOCIAL SERVICE
How to Check UIF Claim Status Online
Aug 30, 2026
Aug 30, 2026
8 min read
Published
Updated:
To check your UIF claim status in South Africa, start with the official UIF Online portal, dial the free USSD code *134*843#, or call the UIF call centre on 0800 030 007.
Employee benefit claims are no longer processed on uFiling. The uFiling homepage tells employees to use uifonline.labour.gov.za for UIF benefit applications. Employers still use uFiling for contributions and declarations.
Need to lodge a new claim first? See XTRAfrica’s guides on UIF Online claims after the uFiling change and how to claim UIF unemployment benefits online.
Official portals and contacts
UIF Online — employee benefit applications and online account
UIF Online login — sign in if you already registered
uFiling — employer contributions (not for new employee benefit claims)
Free USSD: dial *134*843# for claims/payment status and related UIF options
UIF call centre: 0800 030 007 (also shown as 08000 30007 on the UIF Online site)
What you need
Your South African ID number
Your UIF Online username and password if you already registered
Your claim or reference number if you have one
A working cellphone for USSD or call-centre callbacks
Screenshots or notes of any status message or error you already saw
Option 1 — Check status on UIF Online
Open UIF Online. Confirm the address ends in labour.gov.za.
Register for an individual account if you are new, or log in with your existing details.
Open your benefit or claims section after login.
Read the status or message shown for your application. Keep a screenshot.
If the portal asks for more documents or information, upload or follow the instruction shown — do not open a duplicate claim unless UIF tells you to.
If you cannot see a clear status online, use USSD or the call centre next. Do not pay anyone who claims they can “fast-track” your claim.
Option 2 — Free USSD *134*843#
The Department of Employment and Labour promotes a free USSD service so clients can check UIF services without data. Dial *134*843# on any mobile phone and follow the menu for claims and payment status, employee registration, payment continuation, or general enquiries.
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Have your ID number ready. Some USSD actions need a PIN registered at a labour centre. If the menu says you must visit a labour centre, go to the office that handled your claim or the nearest one with your ID and claim details.
USSD can also support payment continuation for some benefit types. That is separate from a simple status check — follow only the prompts that match what you need.
Option 3 — Call the UIF call centre
Call 0800 030 007.
Have your ID number, claim or reference number, and employer name ready.
Ask for the current status of your benefit application and write down what the agent says.
If documents are missing, ask exactly what to submit and through which channel (UIF Online or a labour centre).
Official contact-centre material also says you can visit the labour centre where you applied if you need a face-to-face status enquiry.
uFiling vs UIF Online
Employees (benefit claims): use UIF Online. uFiling’s own notice says employee benefit claims are no longer processed there.
Employers (contributions): keep using uFiling to declare and pay UIF contributions.
Older guides that say “check application history on uFiling” are outdated for new employee claims. Prefer UIF Online, USSD, or the call centre.
Common problems
I still land on uFiling.
Use the UIF Online link above. Bookmark uifonline.labour.gov.za so you do not reopen the old employee-claims path by mistake.
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Login or registration fails.
Reset the password on UIF Online if available, or call 0800 030 007. Do not create multiple profiles for the same ID unless UIF instructs you to.
No status change for a long time.
Check UIF Online again, try USSD, then call the call centre with your reference number. Visit the labour centre if the agent asks you to. Keep proof of every submission.
USSD asks for a PIN I do not have.
Official USSD guidance for some flows says you may need to visit your nearest labour centre to register or update a PIN before continuing.
Scam warning
UIF will not ask you to pay a private agent to approve or speed up a claim.
Never share your UIF Online password, OTP, or banking PIN on WhatsApp, Facebook, or SMS links.
Type labour.gov.za and uifonline.labour.gov.za yourself — avoid sponsored short links.
Checking status through official USSD, UIF Online, or 0800 030 007 is free of agent fees.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still check a claim on uFiling?
New employee benefit claims are directed to UIF Online. Use UIF Online, USSD, or the call centre for status. Employers stay on uFiling for contributions.
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Is the USSD service free?
Yes. Official Department messaging describes *134*843# as a free USSD service that only needs an active mobile number.
What do the portal status labels mean?
Read the exact wording shown on UIF Online or given by the call centre. Do not rely on unofficial lists of status labels — ask UIF if a message is unclear.
I need a new ID before I can claim or follow up.
See how to replace a lost South African ID.
Official sources
UIF call centre: 0800 030 007
Free USSD: *134*843#
Checked against uFiling, UIF Online, and Department of Employment and Labour public guidance on 30 August 2026 (ET). Portal screens and call-centre scripts can change — always follow what the official site or agent shows that day.
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