UIF Payment Status Check Using Your ID Number
Your ID number is really the only thing every UIF check has in common, whether that's uFiling, USSD or a call to the call centre. Here's how to use it properly, and what to do when it doesn't seem to work.
Every method of checking your UIF payment status, whether online, by USSD or over the phone, starts with your South African ID number. It's how UIF matches you to your claim, your employer's declarations and your banking details. If your ID number doesn't pull up the right information, that's usually a sign something in your records doesn't line up, not a fault with the system itself.
Checking Your Status on uFiling With Your ID Number
Your ID number doubles as your username on uFiling. Here's the process.
- Go to the official uFiling login page.
- Enter your 13 digit ID number and your password.
- If you haven't registered yet, you'll need to do that first using the same ID number, then activate your account through the email or SMS link sent to you.
- Once logged in, go to Benefit Payments, then View My Claims, to see your status.
For the full breakdown of what each status label actually means, see our main UIF status check online guide.
Checking Your Status by USSD With Your ID Number
If you don't have data or a uFiling account handy, your ID number still gets you a status check over USSD.
- Dial *134*843# on your cellphone.
- Choose Claims or Payments from the menu.
- Enter your ID number when prompted.
- Follow the on screen instructions to view your status.
This works on any South African mobile network and doesn't need a smartphone or internet access.
Checking Your Status by Phone
You can also call the UIF call centre on 0800 030 007 with your ID number ready. An agent will use it to pull up your claim and talk you through where it stands. This is a useful option if you've tried uFiling or USSD and something looks wrong, since a person can often explain a status in more detail than the portal does.
When Your ID Number Doesn't Work
If your ID number doesn't pull up a claim, or the details on screen don't look right, it's usually one of these.
- No claim has actually been registered yet. If you haven't submitted a claim through uFiling or a Labour Centre, there's nothing to check yet.
- Your ID number on the UI-19 doesn't match your UIF profile. A typo on your employer's side can stop your records from lining up. See our UI-19 form guide for what to check.
- You've changed your surname or ID details. Recent changes, like after marriage, don't always sync automatically between Home Affairs and UIF.
- Your employer hasn't declared your contributions. Without a declaration, UIF may not have enough of a record to show a status. Read more on missing UIF contributions.
If none of that explains it, your best next step is a call to the UIF call centre or a visit to your nearest Labour Centre with your ID and any UIF paperwork you have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check my UIF status with just my ID number, without a reference number?
Yes. Your ID number is what UIF uses to find your claim on uFiling, USSD and through the call centre. A case number helps if you have one, but it isn't required to check your status.
Is there a public UIF website where I can just type in my ID number?
No. UIF doesn't offer an open lookup by ID number outside of uFiling, USSD or the call centre. You'll need to log in or go through one of those channels rather than a simple public search.
Why does uFiling say my ID number isn't recognised?
This usually means you haven't registered an account yet, or there's a mismatch between your ID number and the details your employer submitted. Double check your registration first, then follow up with UIF if the problem continues.
Can someone else check my UIF status using my ID number?
They shouldn't be able to log into uFiling without your password, but a family member helping you can use your ID number over USSD or when calling the call centre on your behalf, as long as they have your consent and other verifying details.