Intellectual and developmental disability


The parent of a child suffering from intellectual and developmental disabilities, may be entitled to a disabled child allowance from age 91 days to 18 years and three months, provided that he meets the basic requirements.

In Israel, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services is the competent authority for the assessment of intellectual developmental disability.
For a child diagnosed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, his entitlement is determined by his level of intellectual developmental disability:

  • The child has been diagnosed as having mild intellectual developmental disability - Entitlement of 50% for supervision.
  • The child has been diagnosed as having moderate-severe intellectual developmental disability - Entitlement of 100% for constant presence.
  • The child has been diagnosed as having with profound intellectual developmental disability - Entitlement of 188% for total dependence on the assistance of others.

In case you suspect your child of having an intellectual developmental disability, it is recommended to contact the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services and, in parallel, the NII which is competent to grant eligibility for a year, and during this period, the family will have time to request the completion of the assessment process.

Documents to be submitted

  • Claim Form for Disabled Child Allowance (fill out and send the form on-line / download the form).
  • Approval of the Placement Committee on the necessity of studies within a special framework.
  • Assessment by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Department of Care to Persons with Intellectual Developmental Disability

In absence of assessment, the following certificates are to be submitted:

Attaching all above documents to the claim will enable us to determine the allowance eligibility without summoning the child to appear before the medical board.

Should eligibility be established upon the documents, your right to require, within 45 days, an examination by the Medial Board in presence of the child is reserved.

Benefit Rates

Benefit rate for a child with intellectual and developmental disability depends on the entitlement determined according to the examination, as defined above, and is as follows:

  • Mild intellectual developmental disability, entitlement of 50% - Benefit rate amounts to NIS 1,771 (as of Jan 01, 2024).
  • Moderate/severe intellectual developmental disability, entitlement of 100% - Benefit rate amounts, with the additional monthly pension, to NIS 3,479 (as of Jan 01, 2024).
  • Whether a profound intellectual disability has been diagnosed or, further to an intellectual developmental  disability, the child is dependent on the help of others, entitlement of 188% - benefit rate amounts, with the additional monthly pension, to NIS 6,542 (as of Jan 01, 2024).

The benefit is paid retroactively for up to one year prior to the date of claim submission.

For further information on benefit payment, click here.

Important

  • You are entitled to receive, free of charge, advice and preparation for appointments at the Medical Board provided by "Helping Hand" centers.
  • The parent of a child suffering from several impairments which granentitlement to a 50% allowance, is entitled to a larger allowance at 100% rate - for more information, click here.
  • It is recommend to read further on  developmental delay (until age 3) and on child depending on assistance from others in activities of daily living (from age 3). It is important to note that these type of entitlements require the actual examination of the child by the Medical Board.
  • If you were summoned to appear with your child before a Medical Board and your child does not require assistance for everyday functions – you may require these activities to be excluded from examination.
  • Prior to the Medical Board, it is recommended to prepare a list of your child's medical problems, and to indicate, during the Board, how these medical problems affect the functioning of the child and his parents.
  • Receiving a disabled child allowance entitles to benefits from other institutions and organizations