Death Benefit by the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Board in West Bengal is a social security scheme that gives financial support to the nominee of a registered construction worker when the worker passes away. The scheme covers both natural and accidental deaths and helps the family of the deceased worker manage expenses during a difficult time.
West Bengal has a large number of registered construction workers, and this scheme is an important part of the welfare support offered by the Labour Department. The scheme is still open for registered members, and the nominee of a deceased worker can claim the benefit by following the official process.
Death Benefit - Introduction
Death Benefit is a welfare scheme managed by the BOCW Welfare Board under the Labour Department of West Bengal. If a registered member passes away, the scheme provides a dedicated grant to their nominee as a death benefit. The support covers both natural and accidental circumstances and helps the family keep financial stability during grief.
As per the latest updates for 2026, the benefit amounts have been revised. The nominee of a worker who dies from natural causes gets ₹2,00,000, while the nominee of a worker who dies in an accident gets ₹4,00,000. These amounts are paid directly to the nominee of the registered worker.
Key Information
| Scheme Name | Death Benefit |
| Level | State |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary State | West Bengal |
| Category | Social welfare and Empowerment |
| Benefit Type | Cash |
| DBT Scheme | No |
| Nodal Department | Labour Department |
Benefits
Death Benefit gives a fixed cash amount to the nominee of a registered worker. The amount depends on how the worker died. The revised 2026 figures are given below.
| Condition | Financial Assistance |
| Natural Death | ₹2,00,000 |
| Accidental Death | ₹4,00,000 |
Eligibility
To get this support, the worker must have been a registered member of the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board of West Bengal. The nominee of the deceased member is the one who can claim the benefit. The following criteria apply for registration.
Requirements for worker registration:
- The worker should be a resident of West Bengal.
- The worker should be actively engaged in building or construction work.
- The worker should be between the ages of 18 and 60 years.
- The worker should have worked in the construction sector for at least 90 days during the preceding year.
For the death benefit claim, the applicant must be the officially designated nominee of the deceased registered member.
Application Process
You should follow this simple process to access the benefits or register yourself as a construction worker.
Registration as a building or construction worker
STEP 1 - Collect Form-27 from the Assistant Labour Commissioner or the Beneficiary Registering Officer in your area. Registration of construction workers is now also available through the official BMSSY portal of the Labour Department.
STEP 2 - Fill out the form carefully and attach all required self-attested documents.
STEP 3 - Submit your completed application along with the registration fee of ₹20 and the yearly subscription fee of ₹30 to the designated office.
Applying for the welfare scheme
STEP 1 - As a nominee, you should request Form-XXXV from the Assistant Labour Commissioner or the Beneficiary Registering Officer.
STEP 2 - Attach the necessary death and dependency documents and submit the application to the same officer for processing.
Helpdesk Information - You can contact the Labour Department at 12th Floor, N.S Building, Block-A, 1, Kiran Shankar Roy Road, Kolkata-700001, or reach the Shramik Sathi helpline at 1800-103-0009.
Documents
For worker registration, the following documents are needed.
- Four passport-sized photographs of the worker.
- An attested copy of the proof of age.
For death benefit claims, the following documents are needed.
- An official death certificate of the registered member.
- A valid dependent or heirship certificate for the applicant.
- Any other supporting documentation requested by the official.
Definitions
Building and other construction work refers to activities such as the construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, or demolition of buildings, roads, bridges, railways, power lines, and irrigation works. This list also covers water works, towers, oil installations, and communication infrastructure like radio and telephone lines.
References
Labour Department BOCW Welfare Board page
BMSSY official registration portal
Employment Bank welfare board portal
FAQ's
What is the age limit for registration?
You must be between 18 and 60 years old to register as a beneficiary.
Is there a minimum work experience needed to register?
Yes, you must have completed at least 90 days of construction work within the last 12 months.
Who is eligible to apply for this Death Benefit?
The registered nominee of a deceased member of the West Bengal Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board is eligible to apply.
What is the death benefit amount in 2026?
In 2026, the nominee gets ₹2,00,000 for natural death and ₹4,00,000 for accidental death of the registered worker.
Where should the application be submitted?
You should submit your application to the Assistant Labour Commissioner or the local Beneficiary Registering Officer.
What is the cost of registration and annual renewal?
The initial registration fee is ₹20, and the yearly subscription fee is ₹30. Renewal also requires a ₹30 fee along with the submission of Form-27A.
What happens if the annual subscription is not renewed?
If you fail to renew your registration after one year, it will be cancelled. However, you can submit a fresh application to the Assistant Labour Commissioner to reconsider your registration.