Beneficiaries of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) have been given until November 1 to put their bank accounts in order. Those who are without any accounts are running the risk of experiencing unnecessary delays in the payments of their UIF money once this deadline has lapsed.
Announcing this development on Friday, Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana said this step is the culmination of a five-month process aimed at revolutionising the electronic banking system.
Beneficiaries stand to benefit from the process, as their UIF money will be directly deposited into their bank accounts.
The new system was launched on May 12 this year at a ceremony in Pretoria attended by UIF beneficiaries.
“Following the launch, we took a conscious decision to delay the full implementation of this electronic banking to give our clients, especially those without banking accounts, enough time to adapt to the new environment,” said the minister.
He added that the past five months have been hectic, with officials of the Department of Labour handling UIF matters countrywide assisting clients without bank accounts to obtain their accounts through various financial institutions.
“Bear in mind that although the initial launch was conducted in partnership with the First National Bank, UIF beneficiaries are allowed to open bank accounts and Mzansi accounts with any financial institution of their choice,” explained the minister.
Mdladlana said the new payment method for UIF benefits is not only aimed at expanding service delivery, but also at restoring dignity to hundreds of thousands of UIF beneficiaries, who will no longer have to stand in long queues to receive their payments.
Until recently, UIF beneficiaries were receiving their money for unemployment benefits in cash and by cheque. — I-Net Bridge
More information or assistance may be obtained from any office of the Department of Labour or from the UIF call centre on Tel: (012) 337 1680