What we do

Retrenchment Management and UIF Claims

The experience of job loss or retrenchement can be very overwhelming and knowing what steps to take is usually overlooked. At ADB Financial Services, we assist you throught these processes.

We guide our clients through the claims that need to be made for UIF an pension funds. We also consult our clients through the legalities of dismissal.

I HAVE BEEN RETRENCHED, WHAT NOW?

Employees despise the word “retrenchment.” Downsizing and retrenchments may be on the future for many of us as a result of Covid-19.

Even if you are shocked and frightened, be calm and don’t panic if you have been retrenched. Do not consider your reluctance as a personal attack. This was most likely a difficult decision for your boss to make. Maintain positive ties with your former job, coworkers, clients, and service suppliers.

Your rights under the Labour Relations Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act are well-known to us. For this reason, we offer extensive consulting and management services to you during this time.

The Do's and Don'ts of Retrenchment

If you’ve recently been laid off, your first reaction could be to panic. There are, however, things you may do to protect your financial well-being and map a course forward. Let’s take a deeper look at the key Dos and Don’ts in the event of a cutback:

Do:

Seek legal guidance from a third party.
Make a plan to stay alive.
Check to see whether your group life insurance policy has a continuation option.
Get financial guidance on your severance and retirement benefits from a trusted source.
Speak with your creditors and bank.
UIF claims must be registered.
Begin promoting yourself.

Don't:

Take your retrenchment as a personal reflection.
Nothing should be signed until you’ve gotten advice.
Consider the benefits of your retrenchment as a “windfall.”
Cancel your medical insurance or gap insurance.
Take unplanned risks
Don’t fall for investing con artists.

The UIF Claims Process

If you are wanting to claim from UIF, it is helpful to understand the process and – most crucially – the time frames. At ADB Financial Services, we aim to help mitigate the potentially disastrous effects of not having an income. Fortunately, we are well-versed in the ins and outs of claiming your UIF benefits.

We will assist you in filling out the forms, verifying that they are valid, and then submitting them on your behalf. We will follow up on your claim after the documents have been submitted to check that there are no issues. We will notify you and submit the papers required for your monthly payments once your claim has been granted.

Claiming for Maternity

If you are on maternity leave and are not earning 100% of your pay from your employer, you may be eligible for maternity benefits.
You may file a claim for up to 121 days (4 months) if you have not returned to work during that time.
You can still claim for 6 weeks if you miscarry or have a stillborn child during the third trimester.
Even if your baby has not yet been born, you can file a claim as soon as your maternity leave begins. However, you will not get paid until your baby’s birth has been confirmed with a birth certificate.
Your application must be submitted within six months post birth.

Claiming for Illness

If you are unable to work for more than 14 days due to illness, you may be eligible for assistance (provided you are not receiving a salary during this time).
If you are a South African national with a barcoded ID, we can assist you to apply for illness benefits.
The fund will pay you 38 percent to 58 percent of your gross salary, up to a maximum of R14 872.00.
Credits are used to determine payments, and credits are based on your last 48 months of employment.

Claiming for Retirement

You can claim retirement benefits if you have retired from your job and will not be looking for another one. If you have taken early retirement, you are ineligible to file a claim.
You may claim for up to 238 days in a row, depending on the number of credits you have accumulated on the system in the previous 48 months.
You can file a claim as soon as your retirement begins, but we can prepare all of the necessary documentation ahead of time.
You MUST apply within 6 months of your retirement date, assuming you have enough credits on the system.

Claiming for Unemployment

If you have been dismissed, retrenched, if your contract expired, or if the company has closed, you can claim unemployment compensation. However, you can not claim UIF if you have resigned of your own accord.
If you are a South African national and have a bar-coded ID book, you can claim unemployment benefits via us.
You may claim for up to 238 consecutive days, as long as, during the last 48 months, you have not returned to work, depending on the quantity of credits you have earned on the system.
Your application for UIF must be submitted within the first six month after your last working day.
An unemployment claim typically takes 4-6 weeks to process if your work records are up to date on the Department’s system for the previous 48 months. To ensure that your claim is processed swiftly and efficiently by the Department of Labour, make sure that all of your employment records are up to date in their system. Incomplete records will create delays, and you will be needed to contact former and current employers if this is not complete.
Once authorized, we will file an initial continuation of benefits form on your behalf, followed by another every 30-35 days until your calculated benefits are paid in full.