You must submit your appeal within 90 days of receiving your rejection or suspension letter.
Option 1: appeal online (uFiling)
- Log in to your profile on uFiling (ufiling.labour.gov.za).
- Click "Benefit Application and Payments" in the left menu.
- Select "Notice of Appeal" and click "Next."
- Check and update your personal details if needed.
- Fill in the details of your declined claim: the date of the decision, why it was refused, and your reasons for appealing.
- Click "Submit" to complete your appeal.
Option 2: appeal in person
- Visit your nearest Labour Centre.
- Fill out the official appeal form (Form UI-3 / UI-12).
- Submit it directly to the staff at the counter, and keep copies of everything.
If your rejection was due to a dismissal dispute — for example, a forced resignation you believe was constructive dismissal — that dispute must go through the CCMA, not a standard UIF appeal.
Fill-in-the-blank appeal letter template
You can copy this wording for an in-person appeal, or paste it into the "Notice of Appeal" explanation box on uFiling.
- To: The Regional Appeals Committee, c/o The Department of Employment and Labour
- My details: Full name, ID/passport number, UIF reference number (if known), contact number, email address
- Claim details: Type of benefit claimed, date the claim was rejected
- Reason 1 — employer didn't submit records: attach proof of employment (payslips, contract) showing you were a contributor.
- Reason 2 — system says you're still employed: attach your signed UI-19 confirming your last day of work and reason for leaving.
- Reason 3 — forced resignation / CCMA dispute: attach your CCMA referral documents.
- Reason 4 — incomplete documents: attach the corrected, fully completed and stamped forms.
Attach copies of your ID, Form UI-19, Form UI-2.8, your last 6 months of payslips, and (if relevant) your CCMA referral or medical certificate.