Benefits

Under the Accident Injury Insurance Law, benefits are paid to a person who is injured in an accident and who, due to the accident, has lost the ability to function. The law applies to anyone who is an Israeli resident, between 18 years of age and retirement age, including housewives who are not insured by national insurance. Under the law, the benefit is paid for a maximum of  90 days for loss of functioning capacity.

Any sudden occurrence in which an outside factor causes physical injury, and loss of ability to function as a result of the injury.

The Maintenance Law (Assurance of Payment) was designed to help women and children who are residents of Israel, who have a court judgment for maintenance payments and are not receiving those payments from the person obligated. The National Insurance Institute makes a monthly payment to those entitled to maintenance and collects the amount from the debtor who was ordered to pay that maintenance in a judgement for maintenance. The amount paid to a woman by the National Insurance Institute is the amount stated in the judgement for maintenance, or the amount stated in the regulations - whichever is the lower of the two. If the National Insurance Institute collects from the debtor the full amount of the maintenance specified in the court judgment, and that amount is larger than the maintenance paid to the woman by the National Insurance Institute, the woman is paid the difference.

A court judgement or other court decision according to which a person is obligated to pay alimony or child support to his spouse, to his child or to his parent.

The person obligated by the judgement for alimony .

A resident and citizen of Israel who has been recognized by the competent authority as a Prisoner of Zion, or a relative of a Prisoner of Zion held in prison, or a family member of a Martyr, is entitled to benefits under the Benefits for Prisoners of Zion and their Families Law of 1992.

Spouse, child, parent, brother or sister (as defined in the Families of Soldiers Killed in Action Law) of a Prisoner of Zion who died in imprisonment, or of a Martyr ,who is an Israeli resident and citizen; In addition, the widow ,widower or child (as defined in the chapter on “Survivors”)of a Prisoner of Zion who received a benefit by force of the Prisoner of Zion Benefits Law ,and who died after 1 January 1999.

A person recognized by the memorial authority Yad Vashem as a righteous gentile, and residing in Israel, as well as family members of a righteous gentile (widow/widower and if there is no widow/er the child, as defined under the National Insurance Law, residing in Israel) are entitled to benefits.

The son or daughter of an insured person (including foster child, adopted child and grandchild supported entirely by the insured person, except for a married child) who meets one of the following conditions: *up to age 18; *if completing his studies at a post-elementary educational institution or studying in a framework to complete matriculation exams, or having a learning disability and studying in a framework recognized by the NII– up to age 20; *if in a pre-army IDF framework – up to age 20;* if a volunteer in a framework of public service for up to 12 months and his army service is deferred due to this volunteering – up to age 21; *if serving compulsory service in the IDF – up to age 24; *if serving in the voluntary National Service – up to age 24;*if studying in an "atuda" framework and deferring army service due to studies – up to age 24.

Wife of insured man at the time of his death, had been married to him for at least a year (six months for woman aged 55 and over), or has borne him a child.

Husband of insured woman at the time of her death, had been married to her for at least a year (six months for man aged 55 and over), if he has child living with him or has passed a means test.

Victims of hostilities and their families are entitled by law to monetary remuneration and various benefits that are designed to assist and support them in their recovery, such as monthly benefits, rehabilitation, annual grants and lump-sum grants. The entitlement is provided under the Benefits for Victims of Hostilities Law, 5730 - 1970. The monetary benefits are provided under the Invalids (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Law, 5719 - 1959. They are calculated according to managerial grade civil service salaries and are updated along with updates in the economy (employment agreements or cost of living increments).

The Child Allowance Law was enacted in September 1959 to help parents with the expenses entailed in raising their children.

The child allowance is paid once a month, on the 20^th of the month, into the bank account of the mother or into the joint bank account of the mother and her spouse. The allowance is universal and is paid according to the number of children in the family.

The Counseling Service for the Elderly operates in all branches of the National Insurance Institute and is designed to assist the elderly and their families in resolving the typical problems of the elderly. The service is provided by retired volunteers who are trained in courses given at universities and colleges to provide counseling, guidance and practical assistance to the elderly.
The service is available to any elderly person in Israel who requires assistance. The counseling is provided in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. The elderly who request the service are given a sympathetic ear and, when necessary, the counselor refers them to other services in the community.

For details on the counseling services departments, click here.

A disabled child benefit is paid to a disabled child between the ages of 91days and 18 years, in accordance with various disabilities and the extent of dependence on others. Children with hearing impairments according to the definition in the law and children with Down’s Syndrome receive the benefit from the date of birth. A child who is entitled to benefits for more than one disability receives the benefit according to the disability that entitles him to the highest amount. The right to the benefit is not indefinite and is examined from time to time.

An employee whose employer has filed for bankruptcy or corporate liquidation is entitled to receive payment of the salary and severance pay owed him.

An income support benefit is paid to individuals and families in Israel not capable of ensuring themselves a basic minimum income for subsistence.

The National Insurance Institute has signed international conventions to assure the protection the social security rights of a person who moves from one country to another, and to avoid dual insurance payments by Israelis living and working abroad.

The Long-Term Care Insurance Law is implemented by the National Insurance Institute, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the general health services.

According to the law, a long-term care benefit is given to people who have reached retirement age, are living at home and require the assistance of another person to perform routine tasks (dressing, bathing, eating, moving around the house, etc.), and to the elderly who require supervision at home for their own safety.

A person who is entitled to a long-term care benefit is not provided with a monetary benefit, but rather with long-term care services to assist him in his daily activities, in running the household and helping his family with his care and supervision.

A maternity allowance is paid to a working woman who goes on maternity leave. The maternity allowance is designed to compensate the new mother for the loss of her salary or income during the time she is not working, due to the pregnancy and birth.
As of May 1, 1998, a father is entitled to replace his spouse during part of the maternity leave and to receive a paternity allowance as prescribed by law.

The mobility allowance provides various forms of assistance to people with impairments  that limit their mobility, with the aim of helping them to integrate into the community and develop an independent life. Each and every benefit in the allowance has its own conditions of entitlement. The allowance - except for driving lessons - is paid from state funds under a Mobility Agreement that was signed by the Ministry of Finance and the National Insurance Institute.

 Old age insurance is one of the most important branches of the National Insurance Institute’s social security system and is designed to ensure that residents of Israel receive a regular monthly income in old age.

Israeli residents are eligible for an old-age pension when they reach the age specified in the National Insurance Law, provided that they were insured for the period of time required by the law and that insurance contributions were duly made for them.

A person whose life is centered in Israel. Among the criteria for determining residence in this context: permanent place of residence, place at which the family is staying, place of the children's education, main place of work, place of learning.

The National Insurance Institute pays a reserve service benefit to any person who is called up for reserve duty under the Security Service Law, and to anyone who is called up for training under the Emergency Labor Service Law. The National Insurance Institute also provides grants to working youths up to the age of 18 who are absent from their jobs due to participation in pre-military education.
As of June 1, 2004, the National Insurance Institute notifies every insured and employer of the amount of the benefit paid.

A person who has been recognized by the Yad Vashem commemorative authority as a righteous gentile and is living in Israel, and family members of a righteous gentile (widow/widower and if there is no widow/er - a child, as defined in the National Insurance Law) are entitled to benefits.

The son or daughter of an insured person (including foster child, adopted child and grandchild supported entirely by the insured person, except for a married child) who meets one of the following conditions: *up to age 18; *if completing his studies at a post-elementary educational institution or studying in a framework to complete matriculation exams, or having a learning disability and studying in a framework recognized by the NII– up to age 20; *if in a pre-army IDF framework – up to age 20;* if a volunteer in a framework of public service for up to 12 months and his army service is deferred due to this volunteering – up to age 21; *if serving compulsory service in the IDF – up to age 24; *if serving in the voluntary National Service – up to age 24;*if studying in an "atuda" framework and deferring army service due to studies – up to age 24.

Wife of insured man at the time of his death, had been married to him for at least a year (six months for woman aged 55 and over), or has borne him a child.

Husband of insured woman at the time of her death, had been married to her for at least a year (six months for man aged 55 and over), if he has child living with him or has passed a means test.

Survivors’ insurance is designed to ensure the means of subsistence for the survivors - widow/er and orphans - of an Israeli resident who dies (except for those who lose their lives in war or due to crime).

The purpose of unemployment insurance is to provide a person who is unemployed against his will with alternative income for a limited period, in order to enable him to look for appropriate employment.

The goal of the vocational rehabilitation is to provide a profession and assistance in work integration to persons with disabilities. The rehabilitation plan is constructed according to personal suitability and capability.

For a counseling session with a rehabilitation clerk, please call 02-6463488.

Volunteers injured during and due to volunteer activities, including injury on the way to or from the volunteering site, as well as dependents of volunteers who passed away due to an injury incurred under these circumstances, are provided benefits as specified in the Work Injury Insurance chapter, and according to the conditions of eligibility specified therein.

Work injury insurance is designed to compensate insureds who are injured at work for the loss of salary or income for the period of time after the injury during which they are unable to work. The injured person is also entitled to receive medical treatment for the results of his injury, free of charge. If the injured person remains disabled as a result of the injury, he is entitled to a pension or grant as decided by the medical committee before which he must appear. If the injured person dies as a result of the work injury, his dependent family members receive a pension or grant.

The Polio Victims Compensation Law-2007 compensates polio victims who are residents of Israel and who became ill with polio on May 14, 1948 or thereafter.

Under the law, a person recognized as a polio victim who became disabled as a result of the polio is entitled to a lump-sum compensation as well as to a monthly pension or grant, in accordance with his disability percentage or percentage of mobility limitation. The compensation and pension do not affect the other benefits paid to polio victims.

Under the Compensation for Blood Transfusion Victims (AIDS), those who are carriers of the AIDS virus as a result of a blood transfusion or blood products that they received from a public health service, from December 31, 1981 to January 1, 1987, are entitled to compensation. The law also applies to spouses and children if they became carriers of the AIDS virus following contact with the victim. Entitlement to payment is determined by a committee of experts at the Ministry of Health. Payment is made by the National Insurance Institute.

Under the Israel Tinea Capitis Compensation Law, as of January 1, 1995, people (or their survivors) whose health was damaged as a result of irradiation against ringworm, which was performed from January 1, 1946 to December 31, 1960, by an entity specified in the law, are entitled to payment. The victim is defined as someone who suffers from one of the diseases specified in the law, such as cancer in the area of the head and neck, or leukemi, and he is in Israel.

The claim for payment should be submitted to the Ministry of Health which determines entitlement to payment and notifies the claimant if his application has been approved or rejected. Therefore, questions regarding the claim, the medical committees or entitlement matters should be directed to the Ministry of Health.

Payment is made by the National Insurance Institute, and therefore only questions regarding payments should be directed to the National Insurance Institute.

Under the National Insurance Law, a one-time grant is paid to soldiers who are discharged from compulsory service or to women who have completed 24 months of national service (someone who terminated her service to get married will receive the grant, provided that she completed at least 6 months of service and was married within 30 days of the date of termination of the service) – and who worked for 6 full months in vital work. Those who worked less than 6 full months may be eligible for a partial grant under certain conditions if they performed work defined as preferred job.

A job in an industrial factory; workshop; construction site; agricultural crop site or packing house; gas station or hotel; except for a secretarial job – as determined and detailed in the Law.

A job in a workplace listed in required job, on condition that it is not suitable work for the person thereby employed.

An attendance allowance is available to men and women up to retirement age who are insured by the National Insurance Institute and who require a great deal of assistance by another person for routine activities (dressing, eating, washing, mobility within the home and control of bodily functions), or who require constant supervision to prevent a danger to their lives or to the lives of others.