Living allowances are paid for orphaned children (as of the 9th grade) attending an education establishment and devoting most of their time to studies.
Living allowances are paid to the parent or to the individual who takes care of the children (custodian).
Please note, if a public entity receive the survivors' pension on behalf of the children, the living allowance will not be paid to that public entity. In that case, the child's family (parent, close relatives or custodian).
Conditions of entitlement
Conditions of entitlement to living allowance are:
- A child who is orphan and for whom or for another family member is paid a survivors' pension or a special survivors' benefit.
- Studies – the child completed 8 years of studies, and is in an education establishment in Israel, where he studies at least 24 hours per week in school, vocational training, high Yeshiva, university or college.
- Age – the child reached 20 years of age.
- The burden of orphan's maintenance is assumed by the Government.
Income test (as of Jan 01, 2024)
The parent can be entitled to living allowance for the child if his monthly income and that of the child combined are below NIS 7,146 .
If the parent has more than one child, the amount of income entitling to living allowance for each child increases by NIS 878 .
For instance: for a parent with two children, allowed monthly income amount is NIS 15,170 .
Please note, incomes from benefits of the National Insurance Institute and the child's income from work are not taken into account. Furthermore, if the parent is a salaried employee, other incomes are not taken into account, such as: survivors' pension (up to NIS 9,430 ), benefit from the Ministry of Defense and benefit from the Ministry of Finance.
Living allowance rate (as of Jan 01, 2024)
The monthly rate of living allowance is determined according to the survivors' pension paid to the parent:
- If the parent receives a survivors' pension with increment for a child – the amount of living allowance is NIS 645 .
- If the parent does not receive a survivors' pension – the amount of living allowance is NIS 894 .
Please note, an orphan who lost his or her both parents, and is recipient of two survivors' pension, will be eligible for a doubled living allowance.
Submitting a claim for living allowance
Before the beginning of each school year, a living allowance claim for is sent to the parent.
A claim for living allowance must be submitted each school year, together with school authorizations regarding the child's studies and income certificates.
The form and authorizations can be sent to us via the internet or submitted at the branch nearest your place of residence.