EVEN though the Covid-19 TERS Relief Scheme which has provided much needed relief to workers during lockdown has ceased, the Department of Employment and Labour, through its entity the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) will continue to provide financial relief through the already existing Short Term/Reduced Work Time Benefit.

Since the announcement of the Covid TERS relief scheme on 26 March 2020, the Fund has made six payment iterations of the benefit covering 13 923　701 payments to millions of workers from 1.1 million employer applications with R57, 3 billion disbursed to date.

The last payment period from 16 September until 15 October closed on 31 December 2020.　

The Reduced Work Time covers employees whose working hours have been reduced or are forced to stay at home due to work stoppage.

Normally, a claim for this benefit is submitted by an employee with the assistance of the employer. However, the system has been enhanced to enable employers to submit bulk applications on behalf of employees and a spreadsheet has been designed to make this easy for employers.

"We expect the processing of these claims to be efficient as we use a tried and tested system. A huge relief for us is that monies will be paid directly into the employee’s account and payments will be paid to legitimate people as calculations of benefits will be based on, among others, credit days accumulated in the last four years which greatly reduces opportunities for fraud," said Marsha Bronkhorst, Acting UIF Commissioner.