The section 46 of the Act envisages following six social security benefits :-

(a) Medical Benefit

(b) Sickness Benefit(SB)

1. Extended sickness Benefit(ESB)
2. Enhanced Sickness Benefit

(c) Maternity Benefit(MB)

(d) Disablement Benefit

1. Temporary disablement benefit(TDB)
2. Permanent disablement benefit(PDB)

(e) Dependants’ Benefit(DB)

(f) Funeral Expenses

An interesting feature of the ESI Scheme is that the contributions are related to the paying capacity as a fixed percentage of the workers wages, whereas, they are provided social security benefits according to individual needs without distinction.

Cash Benefits are disbursed by the Corporation through its Local Offices LOs/ Mini Local Offices (MLOs)/Sub Local Offices SLOs)/pay offices, subject to certain contributory conditions.

In addition, the scheme also provides some other need based benefits to insured workers.

These includes :

1. Rehabilitation allowance
2. Vocational Rehabilitation
3. Unemployment Allowance (Under Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana)