Inquiry into UIF Covid-19 TERS Claims

[Tradie]

I take it I am not the only person who has received an email this morning?

Dear Employer,

We trust this e-mail finds you well.

We write to inform you that our firm, Forensic Investigation Risk and Recovery Management (Pty) Ltd], has been appointed by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) as part of the “Follow the Money Project”. This initiative is aimed at auditing UIF COVID-19 TERS benefits disbursed to employers and their employees.

Verification of appointment:

[Tradie]

What I am interested to know, if they do an audit, will we be paid out, if the balance was short paid ? IF I recall I think we were short paid about 6 months, but I am sure they will identify the short fall when they do the audit.

[Tradie]

Dont you have to keep books for 5 years ?

[GCE]

I just had a representative ( supposedly ) from OMC consult get dropped off by Uber at my office and wanted to come inside to verify documents and bank statements etc from UIF Ters

No identification , just a photo copied letter from UIF saying something or other - Being my normal accommodating self , she unfortunately got no further than the security gate

[Tradie]

Just spoken to a man about this UIF Covid situation and it seems lots of companies have been notified. Let me rather keep my thoughts to myself.

[Tradie]

Can I claim for payments still outstanding?

You can still claim outstanding TERS payments, but you must follow the UIF’s audit and verification process first. Since your case is already flagged for audit, they won’t release any outstanding funds until all supporting documents are submitted and reconciled against what UIF believes you received. 1. What you need to submit (UIF requirements):


They normally ask for:

• Bank statements for the months where TERS was paid (showing deposits).
• Payroll records for the same period.
• Proof that payments were made to staff (EFT slips).
• COVID-19 TERS application documents originally submitted.
• UIF reference number and employer details.

You already received their “Notification of Audit” email, so just respond exactly as they request. If you miss anything, they freeze the process. 2. After the audit


Once the audit confirms:

• You received less than what you paid out, or
• You didn’t receive what you were originally approved for,

UIF will issue a “benefit schedule correction” and then pay the outstanding balance. 3. If UIF owes you money after the audit


You must submit:

• UIF TERS outstanding payment claim form (usually sent by the auditor).
• Corrected spreadsheet showing what you paid vs. what UIF paid.
• Bank confirmation letter.

The audit team forwards this to their finance department for payout. 4. If the audit drags on or they don’t respond


Escalate to:

• Shaka Dladla (you already mentioned them).
• Or the UIF TERS escalation desk – they specifically handle old COVID-19 cases.
• You can also email:
  covid19claimscomplaints@labour.gov.za

Include your UIF reference number, company registration, and “Outstanding TERS payments following audit” in the subject line. 5. Important


TERS claims older than 5 years are still being processed — UIF has not closed them because of massive fraud investigations. So your case is normal, even if it’s dragged on forever.