The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under the central government has launched the Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana for insured individuals covered by the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948. Through this initiative, ESIC provides a one-time cash relief payment covering up to 90 days of unemployment, deposited directly into the beneficiary's bank account. This financial support helps workers during their transition period while looking for new job opportunities. Detailed guidelines, including eligibility criteria and application procedures, are provided separately.
The program was initially launched on a pilot basis on July 1, 2018, for two years. It was subsequently extended from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and has since been further extended for another year, covering the period from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.
Applying for ESIC Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana 2026
Under the Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana, the government has increased the unemployment relief rate to 50% of wages, up from 25%, while also easing eligibility requirements. To qualify, an insured person must have been in insurable employment for at least two years prior to losing their job. Additionally, they must have made contributions for at least 78 days in the contribution period immediately before unemployment, and at least 78 days in one of the three preceding contribution periods within the last two years.
Relief claims can be submitted online via the official portal www.esic.nic.in. Applicants must also submit a physical copy of the claim, including a notarized affidavit, a photocopy of their Aadhaar card, and bank account details, to their local ESIC branch office either in person or by mail.
Goals of the Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana
ESIC introduced this welfare scheme to address modern employment trends, where long-term job stability is increasingly replaced by short-term contracts and temporary roles. The scheme provides financial support to private sector employees who become unemployed, offering them assistance for up to two years while they look for new work.
Employers are now encouraged to link their workers' Aadhaar (UID) numbers to the ESIC database. Aadhaar seeding is mandatory to prevent duplicate registrations and ensure that financial relief is transferred directly to the employees' bank accounts.