Government notifies minimum pension relief plan

Dependents of ESIC members will get a minimum pension of ₹1,800 per month in the event of death of the insured due to Covid-19. The labour ministry has notified the relief and sought suggestions on the scheme within a month.

“The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation do hereby notify the scheme ESIC Covid-19 Relief Scheme under Section 19 of the Act as a welfare measure in case of death of insured person due to Covid-19,” the ministry said in the notification. The insured must have been registered on the ESIC online portal at least three months prior to the date of diagnosis of Covid-19 infection resulting in his or her death.

The deceased must also have been in employment on the date of diagnosis and contributions for at least 70 days should have been paid or payable during a period of maximum one year immediately preceding the diagnosis.


According to the notification, the eligible dependent family members will get the payments directly into their bank accounts. The eligible beneficiaries include spouse or legitimate or adopted child, till the age of 25 years, and a widowed mother.

Under the scheme, 90% of the average daily wages of the deceased insured person, which will be called the full rate of the relief, will be paid to the dependents, with the spouse getting for a lifetime an amount equivalent to three-fifths of the full rate.

In case of a legitimate or adopted son and a daughter, an amount equivalent to two-fifths of the full rate until they attain the age of twenty-five years shall be paid.