What can I do if my ex employer has refused to give me my UI-19 form for five years?

The long answer

Unfortunately, you need to claim UIF within 12 months of stopping working, according to the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act of 2018, which extended the period of submitting claims from six months to 12 months.

You may know that if you resigned or left work of your own choice, you would not be able to claim UIF. If you were dismissed, you would have been able to claim UIF. The documents you need to claim UIF are

• A copy of 13-digit bar-coded identity document.

• A copy of your last six payslips.

• Information supplied by your employer (UI-19).

• A service certificate from the employer.

• Proof of registration as a work seeker.

• A fully completed registration form.

Even though you have missed the opportunity to claim UIF in the twelve months after your employment, it may still be worth reporting the fact that your employer refused to give you the U1-19 form, which he was legally obliged to do. You would need to report it to the Department of Labour and they would despatch an inspector, provided they were willing to follow it up, after five years have gone by.

Pretoria Head Office of Labour Department:

Office Hours: 07:30 - 16:00 Mon - Fri
Telephone: (012) 309 4000, Fax: 0866889835
Street Address: Laboria House, 215 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria, 0001
Postal Address: Private Bag X 117, Pretoria, 0001 ​

​Cape Town Head Office

Office Hours: 07:30 - 16:0​0 Mon - Fri

Telephone: (021) 466 7160, Fax: (021) 462 2832
Street Address: Room 1207, 12th Floor, 120 Plein Street,
Cape Town, 8000

If you are in the Western Cape, you can visit their Walk-in Centre at 9 Wale Street, Mondays to Fridays, between 7:30am and 4pm.

1. Call: 0860 142 142.

2. Fax: 021 483 7216.

3. SMS: Help to 31022.

4. Please Call Me: 079 769 1207.

5. Email: service@westerncape.gov.za.

The contact number for the UIF Call Centre: 0800 UIF (0800 843 843)

Wishing you the best,
Athalie