Balance & Credits
How to Check Your UIF Balance Online
There's no single balance figure like a bank account, but your credit days and payment history tell you exactly where you stand. Here's where to find them and what they actually mean.
When people ask how to check their UIF balance, they usually mean one of two things: how many credit days they have left, or how much of their current claim has already been paid out. UIF shows both together on uFiling, under your claim summary. It's not a stored amount of money sitting in an account, it's a running total based on your contribution history and what's already been paid.
What "UIF Balance" Actually Means
Your UIF balance is really made up of two separate things.
- Credit days. These build up while you're working and contributing, and get used up while you're claiming. Roughly one day of benefit accrues for every four days worked.
- Payment history. This shows what's already been paid out on your current or past claims, so you can see how much of your entitlement is left.
For the full formula behind credit days, see our guide on UIF credit days explained.
How to Check Your Balance on uFiling
- Log into uFiling with your ID number and password.
- Go to Benefit Payments on your dashboard.
- Select View My Claims.
- Open your claim to see your remaining credit days and payment history in one view.
No uFiling account yet? You can also get a general sense of your status by USSD, dial *134*843# and follow the prompts, though the full credit breakdown is easier to read on uFiling itself. Our UIF status check online guide covers both methods in detail.
Why Your Balance Might Look Lower Than Expected
If your credit days seem too low for how long you've worked, it's rarely a system error. A few common causes.
- Missing employer declarations. If your employer hasn't submitted your monthly UIF contributions, those months won't count towards your credits. See missing UIF contributions for what to do.
- A previous claim used up some of your credits. Credits accumulate over a rolling period, so an earlier claim can reduce what's available now.
- Gaps in employment. Periods where you weren't contributing don't add to your balance, even if you were registered with UIF.
- Incorrect salary or dates on your UI-19. These feed directly into how your credits and payout are calculated. Check our UI-19 form guide if something looks off.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my UIF balance online?
Log into uFiling, go to Benefit Payments, then View My Claims. Your available credit days and payment history are shown together there.
Can I check my UIF balance without a uFiling account?
You can get a general status update by USSD, but the detailed credit day breakdown is only available once you're logged into uFiling. It's worth registering even if you're not claiming yet.
Does my UIF balance go down every month, even if I'm not claiming?
No. Credit days only reduce while you're actively receiving benefits. While you're working and contributing, your credit days build up rather than decrease.
Why does my balance show zero credit days?
This usually means your available credits have already been used on a previous claim, or your employer's contribution records are incomplete. Check your contribution history on uFiling, or contact the UIF call centre to confirm.