These changes aim to recognise modern family structures, especially for women employees and multi‑generation households.
ESIC has updated who can be treated as “dependant” and “family” under the Code on Social Security, 2020, effective 21 November 2025.
These changes expand ESIC benefit coverage for more relatives of insured persons.
Key changes in brief:
Widower and grandparents are now included in the definition of “dependant,” making them eligible for dependants’ benefits where they are financially dependent.
For women employees, father‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law are now part of “family” for ESIC medical benefits, subject to dependency conditions.
The revised definitions replace the earlier ESI Act, 1948 definitions and align ESIC with the new Social Security Code framework
