The National Insurance of Israel (NII), one of the pillars on which social policy in Israel rests. It acts as a public social security institution and operates under the National Insurance Law, passed by the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in November 1953.
The NII provides an economic protection to vulnerable populations and families falling in temporary or long-term hardships through the payment of benefits. Today the National Insurance Law includes a wide variety of insurance programs, such as old-age and survivors, maternity, children, work injury, general disability, long-term care, unemployment, bankruptcy and liquidation of corporations, and more.
Beside money benefits, the NII offers vocational rehabilitation and training services to the disabled, victims of hostile actions, as well as long-term care services, and counseling services to the elderly.
The NII is also in charge of enforcing other laws and agreements in the field of social security, primarily the Income Support Law designed to protect every family in Israel from income loss and to guarantee a basic subsistence to needy populations.
Moreover, the NII offers assistance through five funds it operates, by developing projects in the community for special needs populations, such as the elderly, the disabled, youth and children in distress.
The NII collects insurance contributions from residents, according to their income and status. In addition, it is also in charge of implementing the Public Healthcare Insurance Law and responsible for collecting health insurance contributions from Israeli residents and transferring them to health maintenance organizations.