TERS Update: Appeals Process and Manual Bank Verification
Next week, on 6 April 2021, the UIF is due to open its appeals process for refused applications for the two extended TERS periods. (Read more about these periods here).
A common reason for applications being denied on the TERS portal is due to companies being registered with the wrong or no sector classification (SIC code). As eligibility is limited to certain sectors, a check is run against the SARS database. Unfortunately updating your SIC code with SARS will not fix this issue; instead the UIF has released an appeals process.
Appeals Process
If having received an error message, you believe this to be incorrect and that you are eligible to apply for the two TERS periods, the appeal process is as follows:
- From 6 April, you can call the UIF hotline (0800 030 007) to lodge an appeal
- The operator will verify your identity and send you a link to upload your appeal documents (see below).
- Having uploaded your appeal documents, the UIF will review them and make a decision on your appeal.
The appeal documents are:
- The Proforma (“COVID-19 TERS Extension – Motivation for Inclusion proforma” attached to UIF email, dated: 29 March 2021) – In this, you can detail why your business is part of one of the restricted sectors eligible for the extended periods, and how the COVID-19 regulations have affected your employees’ ability to work their normal hours.
- Supporting Documents – The proforma should be substantiated by supporting documents to show you practice in the SIC code stated.
The UIF aims to make a decision and inform you of the result of your appeal within 5 working days. Thereafter you should be able to log onto the TERS portal within 72 hours to reapply. When you do this make sure you:
- Select the same business activity as you did previously; and
- Select “OTHER (APPROVED APPEALS)” on the main division sector.
The application should be the same as for previous periods and is detailed in this earlier blog post.
Bank Verification Process
The UIF has started reaching out by telephone to employers who have been unable to pass the automated bank verification process. If you have experienced such issues please stay vigilant for a call.
To carry out the verification, the UIF will first ask you 5 security questions, before asking you to provide your latest bank confirmation letter (which must be dated within the last 3 months). This will be used to verify the following for comparison with the portal:
- CIPC Number
- Banking details
- ID number
- Trade Name
The UIF did not state in its letter how the confirmation letter is to be provided to them, but this should become clear when you are called. They anticipate a turnaround time of 14 working days.
We hope that this information has proved useful to you. If you have any questions on the above information you can contact the UIF on 0800 030 007. If you have any questions for SimplePay, you can reach us at info@simplepay.co.za.
Equally, if you are not yet a client of SimplePay but would like to be, why not check out our website? Or, better yet, try out our service for free with our 30-day trial, get acquainted with our user-friendly service by reading our getting started page, or take our free online course.
Keep well, stay safe and watch out for April fools jokes!
Team SimplePay