The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation has notified that funeral expenses payable under the Code on Social Security, 2020 will be ₹20,000. The notification was published in the Gazette of India on 16 October 2026 and applies with effect from 8 May 2026.
Notification Details
| Issued by | Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, New Delhi |
|---|---|
| Notification No. | N-12011/1/2023-P&D |
| Dated | 7 October 2026 |
| Gazette | Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, No. 633, 16 October 2026 |
| Legal basis | Clause (f) of section 32(1) of the Code on Social Security, 2020 (36 of 2020), read with Rule 21 of the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026 |
| Amount | ₹20,000 (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) |
| Effective from | 8 May 2026 |
| Signed by | Uttam Prakash, Insurance Commissioner (P&D) |
What This Means
- Funeral expenses are one of the ESI benefits listed in section 32 of the Code on Social Security, 2020. They are paid towards the cost of the last rites of a deceased insured person.
- The amount payable is now ₹20,000.
- The notification applies from 8 May 2026, although it was only published in October 2026. Claims for deaths on or after 8 May 2026 should therefore be at the ₹20,000 rate.
For employers and contractors: if an ESI-covered employee died on or after 8 May 2026, help the family or the person who performed the last rites claim the funeral expenses at the branch office. Check the payment against the ₹20,000 rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much is the ESIC funeral expense benefit now?
₹20,000, as notified by ESIC on 7 October 2026.From
- when does the ₹20,000 amount apply?
From 8 May 2026. The notification was signed on 7 October 2026 and published in the Gazette on 16 October 2026, but it takes effect from 8 May 2026.
- Under which law is this paid?
Under section 32(1)(f) of the Code on Social Security, 2020, read with Rule 21 of the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026.
- Where is the claim made?
At the ESIC branch office where the insured person is registered. Contact the branch office for the current claim form and documents required.
About the Author
