Dear Dilawar / Meenakshi
Please note that – (1) Sickness benefit is 70% of the average daily wages and is payable for 91 days during 2 consecutive benefit periods.
(2) Sickness Benefit is not payable for the first two days of a spell of sickness except in case of a spell commencing within 15 days of closure of earlier spell for which sickness benefit was last paid. This period of 2 days is called "waiting period".
According to the above rules sickness benefit for the quoted question will be as under-
15000/30= 500 – daily average wage
70% of DAW = 500/100*70 =350
Out of 6 days only benefit for 4 days is payable.
Hence amount payable would be 350*4= 1400/-
The benefit given by ESI is correct.
pkjain