Seafarers’ Welfare Fund Society

₹2,00,000 (for permanent disability on or after 16.03.2016) and ₹ 6,00,000 (for permanent disability on or after 29.04.2024 – Disability due to loss of limbs).
Permanent unfitness due to accidental injury within 24 months off article period w.e.f. 29.4.2024 and (amended to 36 months w.e.f. 27.01.2026)
Claim to be submitted within 3 years from the date of permanent disability.

Pursuant to the objects of the Seafarers’ Welfare Fund Society (herein after referred to as the Society) as defined in Article 3(XV) of the Memorandum of Association of the Society, the Indian seafarer, as being eligible in terms of provisions of rule 3 herein below, may be granted the financial assistance under the ‘Invalidity Benefit Scheme’, on becoming permanently unfit for seafaring profession under the circumstances and to the extent detailed herein below.
Such financial assistance to for the Indian seafarer, on becoming permanently unfit for seafaring profession shall be paid, at the absolute discretion of the society and such financial assistance, may be dispensed with and / or curtailed /enhanced, suspended or completely withdrawn at any time without any prior notice. The availability of such financial assistance under the ‘Invalidity Benefit Scheme’ to the eligible Indian seafarer, during off article period does not in any manner confer or create any prescriptive right whatsoever and shall not be called in question.

The scheme, is applicable to the Indian seafarers, holding CDC book, and who are last recruited / engaged, by Indian ship-owners or through registered RPS, for either Indian or foreign flag vessels, before occurrence of an injury, due to which he/she became permanently unfit for seafaring profession.
The financial assistance under the ‘Invalidity Benefit Scheme’ shall be granted to the Indian seafarer, who has become permanently unfit, for the seafaring profession, due to loss of limbs by any an accidental injury that occurred on or after 21.08.2014, during off article period of 12 months (amended to 24 month w.e.f. 31/05/2022) & (amended to 36 month w.e.f. 27/01/2026), from the date of sign off from the last vessel/ship, as recruited/engaged above.

The quantum of financial assistance under this scheme shall be ₹.1,00,000/- (₹One lakh only) to the eligible Indian seafarer. (Refer Note given below.)

The Society may approach the Indian ship-owners /registered RPS, company concerned and obtain such particulars as may be necessary for the purpose of payment of financial assistance envisaged under this scheme.
To receive the benefit under this scheme only such applications will be entertained which are submitted to Seafarers’ Welfare Fund Society within a period of two years upto 30/05/2022 and for accidental injury which occurred on or after 31/05/2022 the time limit has been increased to three years from the date of certificate issued by the DGS approved medical practitioner.
Application for financial assistance under this scheme is to be made in the prescribed form, along with the certificate issued by the DGS approved Medical Practitioner certifying the Indian seafarer ‘Permanently Unfit’ for the seafaring profession due to injury, copy of discharge card/certificate and medical report card issued by the hospital (where the said Indian seafarer was admitted for the treatment) and original CDC Book.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein above in all doubtful/disputed and/or exceptional cases, the Committee of Management of the SWF Society may examine and decide, on case to case basis, and its decision shall be final.

Note 1: The amount of financial assistance has been enhanced to Rs. 200000/- (Rupees Two lacs only) w.e.f. 16/03/2016 for the seafarer, where the injury to the seafarer has occurred on or after 16.03.2016, within off article period of 12 months from the date of sign off from the last vessel/ship.
Note 2: The amount of financial assistance has been enhanced to Rs. 6,00,000/- (Rupees Six lacs only) w.e.f. 29/04/2024 for the seafarer, where the injury to the seafarer has occurred on or after 29/04/2024, within off article period of 24 months from the date of sign off from the last vessel/ship. (amended to 36 months w.e.f. 27/01/2026)