Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY)

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) is an unemployment relief scheme launched by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under the Ministry of Labour & Employment on 1st July 2018. The scheme provides temporary financial assistance to insured employees covered under the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Scheme who lose their jobs due to eligible reasons beyond their control. To ensure uninterrupted support for unemployed insured persons, ESIC has approved the continuation of the scheme till 30th June 2027, allowing eligible beneficiaries to continue availing unemployment relief under the existing provisions.

Under the scheme, eligible insured persons receive an unemployment allowance equal to 50% of their average daily wages for a maximum period of 90 days. The unemployment relief is credited directly to the beneficiary's Aadhaar-linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The claim can be submitted after completing 30 days from the date of unemployment, subject to fulfilment of the prescribed eligibility conditions. The benefit under the scheme can be availed only once during the lifetime of an insured person.

To receive the unemployment relief, the applicant must be an Insured Person (IP) registered under the ESI Scheme and fulfil the eligibility and contribution requirements prescribed by ESIC. Employees who lose their employment due to the closure of an establishment, retrenchment, permanent invalidity caused by a non-employment injury, or other eligible reasons can apply for financial assistance under the scheme. However, the benefit is not available in cases such as voluntary resignation, voluntary retirement, superannuation, dismissal due to misconduct, illegal strikes, lockouts, or other circumstances that make the insured person ineligible under the scheme guidelines.

Eligible insured persons can apply online through the ESIC Insured Person (IP) Portal. Once the claim is submitted, the concerned ESIC Branch Office verifies the applicant's employment records, contribution history, eligibility conditions, and supporting documents. After successful verification, the approved unemployment relief amount is credited directly to the beneficiary's registered bank account through DBT.

Scheme Benefits

• Provides an unemployment allowance equal to 50% of the average daily wages earned by the insured person.
• Provides temporary financial assistance to insured persons while they search for new employment.
• The unemployment relief is payable for a maximum period of 90 days during the approved claim period.
• The financial assistance is transferred directly to the beneficiary's Aadhaar-linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• The unemployment relief can be claimed only once during the lifetime of an insured person.
• The claim can be submitted 30 days after the date of unemployment, subject to fulfilment of all eligibility conditions.
• The insured person can submit the claim directly to ESIC. Employer forwarding or certification of the claim is not mandatory under the relaxed provisions.
• The scheme provides financial support to employees who lose their jobs due to closure of the establishment, retrenchment, permanent invalidity caused by a non-employment injury, or other reasons approved by ESIC.
• The unemployment allowance helps the insured person meet essential expenses while looking for new employment.

Note: The amount payable under the scheme depends on the insured person's average wages and is released only after ESIC verifies the claim and confirms that all prescribed eligibility conditions have been fulfilled.

Eligibility Requirements

To receive unemployment relief under the Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY), the insured person must satisfy the following eligibility conditions prescribed by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC):

• The applicant must be an Insured Person (IP) covered under Section 2(9) of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948.
• The insured person must have remained in insurable employment for at least 12 months immediately before becoming unemployed.
• The insured person must have actually become unemployed during the period for which the unemployment relief is claimed.
• The applicant should have contributed under the ESI Scheme for at least 78 days during the contribution period immediately preceding unemployment.
• The unemployment should have occurred due to an eligible reason such as closure of the factory/establishment, retrenchment, permanent invalidity due to a non-employment injury, or any other reason approved by ESIC.
• The claim can be submitted only after completion of 30 days from the date of unemployment.
• The applicant must have an Aadhaar-linked bank account to receive the benefit through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• The unemployment relief under this scheme is payable only once during the lifetime of an insured person.
• The ESI contribution in respect of the insured person should have been paid or payable by the employer under the ESI Scheme.

Who is Not Eligible?

• Employees who participate in an illegal strike declared by the competent authority.
• Employees whose contributory service does not fulfil the prescribed eligibility conditions under the scheme.
• Employees during the period of a lockout.
• Employees who have attained the age of superannuation.
• Employees who become re-employed elsewhere while receiving unemployment relief under ABVKY.
• Employees who are dismissed or terminated as a disciplinary action.
• Employees who voluntarily abandon their employment, resign, opt for voluntary retirement, or take premature retirement.
• Persons convicted under Section 84 of the ESI Act read with Rule 62 of the ESI (Central) Rules for making a false statement.
• No unemployment relief is payable after the death of the beneficiary.

Note: ESIC verifies every claim based on the insured person's contribution history, employment records, and other relevant documents before approving the unemployment relief.

Required Documents

Applicants should keep the following documents ready while applying for the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY). The concerned ESIC Branch Office may ask for additional documents during claim verification, if required.

• Duly filled ABVKY Claim Form (Form AB-1).
• Aadhaar Card of the insured person.
• ESI Insurance Number (IP Number).
• Bank Passbook or Cancelled Cheque showing the account number and IFSC code.
• Salary Slips for the last two months.
• Attendance Sheet/Attendance Record for the last two months.
• Self-declaration/Affidavit in the prescribed format.
• PAN Card, if applicable.
• Employer/Establishment details, including the Employer Code, if required for claim verification.
• Any other documents requested by the concerned ESIC Branch Office.

Steps to Apply

Eligible insured persons can apply for the Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) online through the official ESIC Insured Person (IP) Portal by following the steps given below:

1. Visit the official ESIC Portal.
2. Under the Services section, select Employees and then click on IP Portal.
3. You will be redirected to the ESIC Insured Person (IP) Portal. Log in using your registered credentials.
4. Ensure your Aadhaar number, mobile number and bank account details are updated in the IP Portal before submitting the claim.
5. After logging in, select the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) claim option and fill in all the mandatory details required to submit your claim.
6. Upload the required documents, including the duly filled AB-1 Claim Form, Aadhaar Card, and other supporting documents, wherever applicable.
7. Review all the information carefully and submit the online application.
8. Take a printout of the submitted claim form and keep it for future reference.
9. The concerned ESIC Branch Office will verify your employment records, contribution history, eligibility conditions, and supporting documents.
10. After successful verification, the approved unemployment relief amount will be credited directly to your registered bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Note: Ensure that your Aadhaar number and bank account are linked with your ESIC records before submitting the application. The claim can be filed only after completing 30 days from the date of unemployment.

Relevant Links

• Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana Application Form
• Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABKY) Claim Form
• Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana Details
• ESIC Official Portal
• Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana Notice

Contact Information

• ESIC Toll Free Number: 1800112526
• ESIC Contanct Details