Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana 2026 - ESIC Unemployment Relief, Eligibility and Online Apply

ESI Corporation, an organisation under central government, runs Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) for insured employees who lose their jobs, and this unemployment relief scheme has now been extended till 30 June 2027. Under ABVKY, eligible insured persons get cash relief equal to 50% of their average daily wages, paid for up to 90 days, once in a lifetime.

ESIC has also relaxed the eligibility rules. Insured employees now need only 12 months of insurable employment instead of 2 years, which brings many more workers under cover. Claims can be filed online at esic.gov.in, along with a physical claim at the nearest ESIC branch office.

Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana 2026 Apply Online

Insured persons who become unemployed can claim ABVKY relief in two ways. Online submission is available at the official ESIC portal esic.gov.in, where claim forms AB-1 to AB-4 can be filled. A physical copy of the claim, along with a notarised affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper of ₹20, Aadhaar card copy and bank account details, still needs to reach the designated ESIC branch office by post or in person.

STEP 1 - Visit esic.gov.in and look for the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana section under employee services.

STEP 2 - Download form AB-1, the main claim form, along with AB-2, AB-3 and AB-4 as applicable, and fill in the insurance number, employment details and bank account information.

STEP 3 - Get an affidavit made on ₹20 non-judicial stamp paper and notarised, confirming that the employee is unemployed and searching for new work.

STEP 4 - Attach a photocopy of Aadhaar card and a cancelled cheque or bank passbook copy with the filled form.

STEP 5 - Submit the complete set of documents to the nearest ESIC branch office by post or in person, or complete the process online where that facility is active for the branch.

Eligibility Criteria for Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana

Eligibility rules for ABVKY got easier this year. Earlier, an insured person needed 2 years of continuous insurable employment before applying. Now, only 12 months of insurable employment right before unemployment is required, along with at least 78 days of contribution in one completed contribution period during those 12 months.

Not every unemployed insured person qualifies though. Relief is not given if the job loss happened due to misconduct, during a lock out, on superannuation, or if the person was convicted for making a false statement under the ESI Act, 1948. Employees who took voluntary retirement also stay out of this scheme.

Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana Extended Till June 2027

ESIC approved another extension for ABVKY in its 198th meeting, chaired by Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, moving the scheme from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. This is not the first extension. Scheme started on a pilot basis in July 2018 and has been renewed almost every year since.

Claim settlement has also become faster. ESIC now processes claims online with direct benefit transfer to bank accounts, and keeps regular watch on pending claims. Government data shared in Lok Sabha shows 1,406 beneficiaries received about ₹1.52 crore under ABVKY in 2025-26, while 1,978 beneficiaries got around ₹2.72 crore in 2024-25.

Objectives of Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana

ESIC designed ABVKY keeping the changing pattern of jobs in mind. Many private sector jobs today run on fixed-term contracts instead of long, permanent roles, so workers need some support between two jobs. Under this scheme, an employee who loses a private sector job gets short-term money support while looking for the next one.

Employers are also encouraged to seed Aadhaar numbers of workers and their family members in the ESIC database. Aadhaar seeding stops duplicate registrations and helps ESIC send the relief amount straight into the right bank account.

Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana Application Form PDF Download

Insured employees who want to use ABVKY can get the claim form from the official website or from any ESIC branch office. Along with the form, a non-judicial stamp paper of ₹20 with a notarised affidavit needs to go in, covering forms AB-1 to AB-4.

• Official ABVKY circular and application form download link: https://www.esic.nic.in/attachments/circularfile/93e904d2e3084d65fdf7793e9098d125.pdf
• Sample copy of Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana application form, showing the fields insured employees need to fill

Every insured person covered under Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 can use this ABVKY facility. Once ESIC confirms the claim, relief money goes directly into the applicant's bank account.

Aadhaar Seeding for ESIC Database

ESI Corporation also reimburses ₹10 per person to employers who complete Aadhaar seeding of workers and their family members. This step stops multiple registrations under one person's name and helps insured employees meet the contribution conditions needed for other ESIC benefits.

Funeral Expenses and Super Specialty Treatment Under ESIC

Funeral expenses for insured employees stand at ₹15,000, raised from the earlier ₹10,000, and get paid to the family on the death of an insured person.

ESIC also eased conditions to get free Super Specialty Treatment for insured persons and their dependents.

• Insurable employment requirement for Super Specialty Treatment came down from 2 years to 6 months, with only 78 days of contribution needed.
• Dependents of insured persons need 1 year of insurable employment with 156 days of contribution to use Super Specialty Treatment under this scheme.

FAQ's

Is Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana still active in 2026?

Yes. ESIC has extended ABVKY from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, so eligible insured employees can still claim unemployment relief.

How much money does ABVKY give?

Eligible insured persons get 50% of their average daily wages as relief, paid for up to 90 days, only once in their lifetime.

What is the new eligibility condition for ABVKY?

An insured person now needs only 12 months of insurable employment right before job loss, with 78 days of contribution in one completed contribution period during that time.

Where can insured employees apply for ABVKY?

Claims can be filed online at esic.gov.in or submitted physically, along with the affidavit and required documents, at the nearest ESIC branch office.

Source: https://www.esic.gov.in/abvky