ESI Card: Core Benefits Stay Strong

📰 ESIC Drives Digital Transformation and Outreach for Insured Persons

New Delhi: The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) continues its push for digitalization and improved beneficiary services for ESI Card. Recent updates focus on enhancing access to information. They are also streamlining processes and expanding the reach of the ESI scheme.

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These initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to a technology-driven, worker-centric social security ecosystem for ESI Card.

ESI Card: Digital Services and Accessibility Updates

A core focus for ESIC is leveraging technology for ESI Card. This effort aims to make services more accessible to its vast network of Insured Persons (IPs) and their families.

• e-Pehchan Card Download: Insured Persons can download their e-Pehchan Card (the ESI card) directly through the IP Portal. They can also use the UMANG App for this purpose. This remains a key digital feature. This facilitates quick and easy proof of ESI coverage.
• Health Passbook: IPs can download their ESIC health passbook for themselves. They can also download it for their family members via the UMANG platform. It provides a consolidated view of their health-related ESI details.
• Online Services on UMANG: The UMANG app is a unified platform for various government services. It lists multiple ESI services. These include checking Claim Status, viewing Contribution details, and updating the preferred SMS Language. This makes essential information available on the go.
• Aadhaar Seeding: ESIC encourages the voluntary Aadhaar authentication of Insured Persons. This also applies to their family members. This process further streamlines identity verification and advantage disbursal.
• WhatsApp Channel: ESIC has been actively promoting its presence on WhatsApp Channel for ESI Card. This effort is to enhance connectivity. It ensures beneficiaries stay updated with announcements and information for ESI Card.

ESI Card: Expanding Coverage and Outreach

ESIC is actively working to bring more workers into the social security net. They do this often through special campaigns. They also focus on infrastructure expansion for the ESI Card.

• ‘SPREE 2025’ Campaign: The Corporation has initiated outreach activities. These activities are conducted under schemes like SPREE (Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers and Employees). The scheme aims to encourage the registration of new establishments and employees. This will help expand the scheme’s coverage.
• Infrastructure Growth: ESIC continues to expand its physical footprint. Recent announcements have included the approval of new ESIC Hospitals and dispensaries across various states. Their inauguration significantly enhances healthcare delivery capacity for beneficiaries.
• Payroll Data Highlights: Provisional payroll data consistently shows a significant number of new workers. Each month, many enroll under the ESI scheme. This reflects the successful expansion of the social security net. For instance, in July 2025, over 20 lakh new workers were enrolled.

Core ESI Card Benefits Stay Strong

The fundamental benefits linked to the ESI card are essential. It provides coverage to employees earning up to ₹21,000 per month. The limit is ₹25,000 for persons with disability. These benefits continue to be the backbone of the scheme.

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The card grants access to:

• Comprehensive Medical Benefits: Full medical care is provided for the IP from the first day of employment. Their family members also get full medical care from the start. This care includes hospitalisation, specialist consultation, and medicines at ESI institutions.
• Cash Benefits: Financial support is provided during periods of incapacity. This includes Sickness Assistance (70% of wages for up to 91 days). It also includes Maternity Aid (100% of wages for 26 weeks), and Disablement Aid (for work-related injuries).
• Unemployment Allowance: Cash relief is provided under the Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana for involuntary loss of employment. The duration is up to 24 months, depending on eligibility.

The continuous digital push by ESIC aims to simplify access to these vital benefits. This makes the process more efficient for the vast workforce covered under the scheme.

💰 Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY): Unemployment Relief

The Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) is an important unemployment relief scheme. The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) administers it for eligible Insured Persons (IPs). The scheme offers cash compensation during periods of unemployment, helping bridge the income gap while they search for new employment.

Latest Update on Scheme Extension

The most recent and critical update for the ABVKY scheme relates to its duration:

• Extension Confirmed: The ESI Corporation has approved the extension of the ABVKY scheme. The extension is for a further two years. It is effective from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026.
• Relaxed Conditions: This extension continues the provision of relaxed eligibility conditions. It also continues the provision of the enhanced relief rate that were put in place during the pandemic. These measures supply greater support to beneficiaries.

Eligibility and Benefits (Current Relaxed Conditions)

The scheme is available to workers covered under the ESI Act, 1948. It is for those who become unemployed due to reasons other than punishment for misconduct. The scheme does not apply to voluntary retirement or superannuation cases.

Key Requirements:

• The IP’s Aadhaar Card and Bank Account must be linked with the ESIC database.
• The IP must be considered unemployed by all employers if they were working for more than one.

How to Apply for ABVKY

The application process has been streamlined to allow Insured Persons to claim the relief directly:

1. Online Claim Generation: The Insured Person should visit the ESIC portal and access the link for generating the ABVKY claim. They will need to enter their Insurance Number. They must also enter their bank details and Aadhaar number. Finally, they need to specify the period for which they are claiming relief.
2. Submission: The IP needs to take a printout of the claim form (Form AB-1) generated online.
3. Physical Submission: The signed claim form must be submitted directly to the designated ESIC Branch Office (BO)/DCBO (or via post). It should include an affidavit in the prescribed format, a photocopy of the Aadhaar Card, and Bank Account details/Cancelled Cheque. The claim no longer requires to be forwarded by the last employer.
4. Verification and Payment: The Branch Office will verify the claim. The relief amount will be paid directly into the IP’s linked bank account. The claim is submitted anytime after being rendered unemployed. Nonetheless, it should be submitted within one year from the date of unemployment.