*******/*****sters *****ing our UIF

On the 18 of January 2024 I filed for my unemployment benefit. I was cancelled in February because one of the documents was not scanned correctly. I then redid the claim. immediately. On the 18th of April I got a call from the call centre to say my claim was approved and that I need to submit a continuation, which I did. Still no payment came through. I followed up every single day with no assistance.

I went to the labour centre in Athlone Western Cape and was told I cannot be assisted be my claim was inactive for two months and was closed. They scanned my ID and sent a request to some Head office for the status to change.

On the 22nd of May I received a call and email to say my claim was finalised with a once of payment and has been sent for reassessment. I followed up after the 7 working days they advised me off and nothing was done.

I went to the same labour centre in Athlone and they said on their side they can't pick up anything done with my claim. They couldn't even see the email which I received from the labour centre. They said my profile is just blank and I must contact the call centre seeing as I app**** online.

When calling the call centre I get a different response from each agent. One told me to take my bank statement, payslips and updated UI28 form to the labour centre. I did just that and they sent me back saying I must contact the call centre because they are unable to assist me on the side. I called the call centre the same day and one of the agents told me to submit a continuation of benefits. I asked why must I submit a continuation when I do not know what the status of my claim is. They placed me hold and sent to the survey line with no help.

It's been more than 6 months now and I have never received a single payment from my UIF benefit.

Is it normal to wait so long for UIF? I'm starting to get that sinister feeling that ***** is being done. How can a payment be sent to paymaster and than closed yet I never received a single dime? This is very inhumane as an unemployed person, you rely on your UIF benefit to feed and support your children. Whilst you guys are sitting comfortably behind your desks reading this complaint or the the agents taking my calls, know that my family is starving as they re**** on this benefit to put food on the table. So go on and play with our livelyhoods.