UIF not finalising maternity payment application

My wife and I have been to the UIF on more than 4 occasions since end of March to get the UIF to accept and pay the maternity benefits. The last time she was there, she submitted the doctor's letter after all the other original application documents have been accepted and approved. The UIF agent stated that her payments must just be authorized internally at that specific department. She must wait a day or 2 and the payment will be done on which she must bring the next form for payment. This to date have not realized and no one over the phone can assist. Now wonder the UIF sit with millions that have not been paid out. What is the reason then for paying UIF in the first place. Can someone at the UIF follow this up. Our child is in hospital and we can't go in to ask what is going on.