ESIC Coverage for Family: Can Grandparents and Unmarried Sisters Be Included?

Dear Seniors, I have a query regarding ESIC coverage for dependents like a grandfather/grandmother, an unmarried sister, or a widow.

ESIC Coverage for Family Members

Grandfather and Grandmother are not covered if the mother and father are alive and already covered under ESIC.

Unmarried sisters are covered if they are dependent on the Insured Employee. However, in the case of a widow sister, she is not covered.

Definition of Family Under the Employees' State Insurance Act

Section 2 of the Employees' State Insurance Act deals with the definition of family, which is as follows:

Section 2(10): Family means all or any of the following relatives of an insured person, namely:

• (i) a spouse;

• (ii) a minor legitimate or adopted child dependent upon the insured person;

• (iii) a child who is wholly dependent on the earnings of the insured person and who is
(a) receiving education, until he or she attains the age of twenty-one years,
(b) an unmarried daughter;

• (iv) a child who is infirm by reason of any physical or mental abnormality or injury and is wholly dependent on the earnings of the insured person, as long as the infirmity continues;

• (v) dependent parents, whose income from all sources does not exceed such income as may be prescribed by the Central Government;

• (vi) in case the insured person is unmarried and his or her parents are not alive, a minor brother or sister wholly dependent upon the earnings of the insured person.

In this definition, the Grandmother and Grandfather are not included; hence, they are not eligible for the ESIC benefits.

However, as per 2(10)(vi), dependent minor sisters or minor brothers will get the benefits if the insured person's father and mother are not alive.

Regarding your query, they are not covered under the provisions of the ESI Act of 1948 rules, and they also did not receive any benefits from ESIC.

Thanks & Regards,

V. R. RAO PULIPAKA
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

IP is the second son of my parents. My question is: are parents covered under ESIC?