50% wages for up to 3 months as unemployment relief

Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana or ABVKY, which was introduced in 2018, for a trial period of two years, has now been extended till June, 2021.  As per the scheme, those registered under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and had lost their jobs during the pandemic, can claim 50 per cent of their wages for up to three months as unemployment relief, even if they have now started going to work. The relief will be paid from the ESIC’s funds worth Rs 44, 000 crore.

The scheme is offered as a welfare measure to employees covered under Section 2(9) of the Emplyees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act, 1948. It offers relief payment of up to three months (90 days), once in a lifetime.

Earlier, the rate of unemployment relief under the scheme was 25 per cent, which has now been increased to 50 per cent. The relief shall be paid after 30 days from the date of unemployment and the claim for the same can be submitted directly to the relevant ESIC branch office. The official website of the ESIC states that there is relaxation in eligibility conditions, “provided the insured person should have been in insurable employment for a minimum period of two years immediately before her/his unemployment and should have contributed for not less than 78 days in the contribution period immediately preceding to unemployment and minimum 78 days in one of the remaining three contribution periods in two years prior to unemployment.

The enhanced benefit as well as relaxed conditions are applicable during the period March 24, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Those seeking the relief can claim the same online via the ESIC website, www.esic.in, or submit the physical claim along with an affidavit, photocopy of Aadhaar Card and bank account details to the designated ESIC Branch Office by post or in person.