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ESIC sickness benefit

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Sickness Benefit pays you 70% of your pay for up to 91 days a year when illness keeps you from work.

Central Government Checked 25 October 2026 ESIC

Steps

  1. Open Sickness Benefits on the ESIC website
    This page explains Sickness Benefit, Extended Sickness Benefit (ESB) and Enhanced Sickness Benefit.
    Open this page
  2. Call the Toll Free / Help Desk
    Dial 1800-11-2526 on the Toll Free / Help Desk line and ask how to claim.
    Open this page
  3. After the last step
    The official page does not say how to claim, so call the Toll Free / Help Desk on 1800-11-2526 to ask.
    If you are expecting a baby, read the guide: ESIC maternity benefit.

What this is

Sickness Benefit is cash that replaces part of your pay while you are too ill to work. You need 78 days of contributions, and a doctor of ESIC (Employees' State Insurance Corporation) must certify that you cannot work. Longer illnesses and a family planning operation are paid at their own rates.

Who this is for

Workers covered by ESIC who fall ill and cannot work
Workers with one of 34 listed long-term diseases
Workers who have a family planning operation
You are an insured worker of ESIC
You have 78 days of contributions
These days fall in the corresponding contribution period
Any one of these applies:
A Medical Officer.
Authorised doctor certifies your illness and that you cannot work.
You do not draw maternity or temporary disablement benefit for the same period

What you need

  • The official page does not list documents. Ask the office that handles this service.
Not stated on the official page

Where to find it

Home Sickness Benefits Open the official page

Which version this is for

ESIC website, Sickness Benefits page
The official page explains the rules only. It gives no steps to claim, and no logged-in screens were seen.

If something goes wrong

Never share your OTP (One-Time Password) or password with anyone who asks
No office, bank or helpline will ask for your OTP, password or PIN.
Fewer than 78 days of contributions?
Sickness Benefit needs 78 days. Call the Toll Free / Help Desk on 1800-11-2526 and ask how your days were counted.
Illness runs past 91 days?
Extended Sickness Benefit (ESB) pays 80% of your pay for up to two years. It covers 34 listed long-term illnesses.
Had a family planning operation?
Enhanced Sickness Benefit pays your full pay. You get up to 7 days after vasectomy and up to 14 days after tubectomy.

Official help

Official website
www.esic.gov.in
Toll Free / Help Desk
1800-11-2526

Words used on this page

ESICEmployees' State Insurance Corporation. It runs the insurance scheme for workers.
Insured PersonA worker covered by the ESIC scheme.
Contribution periodThe months in which your employer's ESIC money counts.
WagesYour pay, as ESIC counts it.
Medical OfficerA doctor of ESIC who can certify your illness.
ESBShort for Extended Sickness Benefit. Longer support for 34 listed long-term diseases.
Enhanced Sickness BenefitFull wages paid for a few days after a family planning operation.
SterilisationA family planning operation: vasectomy for men, tubectomy for women.

Sources and how we checked

Last checked against the official source: 25 October 2026

Known limits

We read the official pages on 25 October 2026. We have not tested every step ourselves, so if a screen looks different, follow what the official website shows.