Explanation sheet for emissaries and other Israelis working abroad on the subject of child allowances and the Maternity Law

Know your rights in National Insurance

Explanation sheet for emissaries and other Israelis working abroad on the subject of child allowances and the Maternity Law

Child allowances

Under the National Insurance Law, a child who resides abroad for over 3 months is entitled to continue to receive the child allowance for the first 3 months of his residence abroad. Entitlement to the allowance ceases as of the fourth month of his residence abroad, unless one of the child's parents meets either of the following conditions:

• He/she has been sent abroad by his/her Israeli employer;
• He/she is employed abroad as local Israeli worker.

In order to continue to receive the child allowance for his /her child, the parent who is sent abroad for one of the above reasons must do the following:

1. If he/she went abroad with the child – transfer an authorization from the employer regarding the period of work abroad.
2. When the person's first child is born during the period of work abroad – transfer:
   -  a claim form for child allowance, including bank information;
   -  an authorization from the employer regarding the period of work abroad.
3. A person who already receives a child allowance and an additional child is born abroad, he/she must report on the birth by means of the claim form for child allowance.

The forms and authorizations should be transferred to the National Insurance Institute by means of the employer.

Before the end of the period of your work abroad, the National Insurance Institute will send an announcement to you and to your employer, in which you will be requested to update the NII regarding the extension of your period of work abroad or, alternately, the completion of your work abroad and your return to Israel with your family.

If you wish to change the information on your bank account to which you wish the child allowance to be deposited, please fill out and send this information through the NII  site. The bank account must be a joint account of both spouses or of the mother.

Maternity benefits

An emissary or Israeli working abroad for an Israeli employer may be entitled to the following benefits under the Maternity Law:

• A risk pregnancy benefit – in accordance with the medical authorization of a gynecologist. The claim should be submitted on the appropriate claim form, together with the medical authorization.
• Birth grant – if the birth took place in a hospital. The claim should be submitted on the appropriate form.
• Hospitalization grant – if there were hospitalization expenses related to the birth. The claim should be submitted on the appropriate form.
• Maternity allowance – subject to the conditions stipulated in the law. The claim should be submitted by means of the employer on the appropriate form.