UIF App: How to Download and Use the Official UIF Mobile App
Not everyone has a laptop, and not everyone wants to fight with a website on a small screen. That’s why the UIF launched its own mobile app. It’s free, it’s zero-rated, and it lets you handle the most common UIF tasks from your phone.
Here’s how to get the real app, what it does and how to stay away from copycats.
What is the UIF app?
The UIF app is the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s official mobile app. It was unveiled by then UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping, together with the UIF’s USSD service, to cut queues at labour centres and save claimants transport costs.
Two things make it different from most apps:
- It’s free to download.
- It’s zero-rated, which means using it doesn’t eat your data.
What can you do on the UIF app?
The app offers the same core services as the UIF USSD line. These include:
- Checking your claim status
- Checking your payment status
- Requesting a continuation of payment
- Checking whether you’re registered with the UIF
For a full comparison of ways to track a claim, see our UIF status check guide.
What you can’t do on the app
The app isn’t a replacement for everything. For a full claim application, uploading documents or correcting personal details, you’ll usually still use UIF Online or visit a labour centre. Employers declaring workers and paying contributions use uFiling, not the app.
How to download the official UIF app
The UIF has said the app is available on three stores:
- Google Play Store (Android)
- Apple App Store (iPhone)
- Huawei AppGallery (Huawei phones)
Steps
- Open your phone’s app store.
- Search for “UIF”.
- Before you tap install, check the developer or publisher name. It should be the Unemployment Insurance Fund or the Department of Employment and Labour.
- Check the reviews and the number of downloads.
- Install the app and open it.
- Sign in or register using your South African ID number and follow the prompts. Use the same cellphone number you gave the UIF, because one-time PINs are sent to it.
How to spot a fake or unofficial UIF app
Search for “UIF” in any app store and you’ll see several apps with UIF in the name. Many are made by private companies offering calculators, news or “help” services. Some are harmless; others are designed to collect personal information.
Be careful if an app:
- Is published by an individual or company you don’t recognise
- Asks for your banking PIN, card number or OTP
- Charges a fee to “process” or “fast-track” your claim
- Asks you to send documents over WhatsApp
- Promises guaranteed approval
Remember: applying for UIF and checking your status are always free. The Unemployment Insurance Act prohibits anyone from charging you a fee to claim.
If you’re not sure whether an app is official, don’t enter your details. Use the USSD code 134843# or UIF Online instead, which are both official.
No smartphone? Use USSD instead
The app and the USSD line offer the same main services. If you have a basic phone, no space for apps or no airtime, dial \134\843#. It’s free and works on every South African network. Choose the option you need and enter your ID number.
What to do if the UIF app isn’t working
Like any government system, the app sometimes has problems. Try these steps:
- Update the app to the latest version from the app store.
- Restart your phone and try again.
- Check your network. Zero-rating needs a mobile network connection; some Wi-Fi networks block government sites.
- Clear the app’s cache in your phone settings, or uninstall and reinstall.
- Try later. UIF systems sometimes go offline for maintenance, often in the evenings or over weekends.
- Switch channels. If the app is down, use 134843#, UIF Online or call 0800 030 007.
Keeping your account safe
- Use a strong password and don’t share it with anyone
- Never give your OTP to anyone, even someone claiming to be from the UIF
- Log out if you share your phone
- Keep your cellphone number up to date with the UIF so OTPs reach you
App vs website vs USSD
| Feature | UIF app | UIF Online website | USSD 134843# |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check claim status | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Check payment status | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Continuation of payment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Full new claim with documents | Limited | Yes | No |
| Needs data | No (zero-rated) | Yes | No |
| Needs a smartphone | Yes | Phone or computer | Any phone |
If you need to sign in to the website instead, our UIF login guide walks you through it.
Who benefits most from the app?
The UIF app is especially useful if you:
- Need to submit your continuation of payment every four weeks
- Want to check whether a payment has been released without calling
- Have limited data but a smartphone
- Live far from a labour centre
- Want to confirm, while you’re still working, that your employer has registered you
Workers who used to spend a morning and taxi fare going to a labour centre just to ask about a payment can now get the same answer in a minute.
Help for people who aren’t comfortable with apps
If you’re helping an elderly parent or someone who isn’t comfortable with technology, sit with them while they install and use the app, but let them type their own password and OTP. If an app feels like too much, the USSD line is simpler: one code, a short menu and an ID number.
Quick answers
Does the UIF have an app?
Yes. The UIF has an official, free, zero-rated app on Google Play, the Apple App Store and Huawei AppGallery.
Does the UIF app use data?
No. The app is zero-rated, so it shouldn’t use your data on South African mobile networks.
Can I apply for UIF on the app?
The app focuses on status checks, payments, continuations and registration status. Full applications with document uploads are best done on UIF Online.
How do I check my UIF on my phone without the app?
Dial 134843# and follow the prompts. It’s free and doesn’t need data.
Conclusion
The official UIF app is a free, zero-rated way to check claim and payment status, request continuation of payment and confirm your registration, all from your phone. Always download it from a trusted store and verify the publisher. Never pay anyone or share your OTP. No smartphone? Dial 134843# instead.
