Extended COVID-19 TERS relief for certain categories of employees – Level 4 – now open!

The Department of Labour has now extended the TERS benefits/claims for certain sectors still being affected by the level 4 lockdown – these are limited to the following:

• Employers (as listed in Annexure A) who were unable to operate in full/partially due to the amended lockdown regulations  – Period 16 March 2021 – 25 July 2021
• Employers (as listed in Annexure B) who were unable to operate in full/partially due to the amended lockdown regulations  – Period 28 June 2021 – 25 July 2021

Employers will be required to provide their business’ Sector Industry Classification (SIC) to allow UIF to verify the eligibility of TERS claims. Payments are to be made directly to employee’s bank accounts but employers are to provide the employees’ valid bank details to TERS during the claim process.

• Employees in all sectors who were:
  • Required to self-isolate or quarantine to prevent the spread of Covid–19 in terms of the occupational health and safety (OHS) directions
  • Age of 60 and above and who could not be reasonably accommodated in the workplace
  • With co-morbidities and who could not be reasonably accommodated in the workplace

    Employers will be required to provide supporting documentation to allow UIF to verify the eligibility of TERS claims – this will be communicated once the Department of Labour opens the claims for this period.

Any affected employees who do not fall into the above-mentioned categories and are therefore NOT eligible to receive TERS benefits under these extended conditions, are able to access relief from UIF, should they have credits available.

We can assist you should you require assistance with TERS applications or queries that may have arisen with your application so don’t miss out on this opportunity to obtain some relief for your employees during this lockdown.

Note that most of the rejected TERS applications have arisen due to u-filing errors rather than the actual TERS applications. Did you know that you are required to register each employee separately on u-filing even if you (as the employer) have registered with SARS for Employees Tax, UIF, and SDL levies? We can also assist you with this u-filing requirement which is critical for any TERS or UIF claim.

Please contact me to help you with this relief for you and your employees.