National Insurance Offices to Close for Sukkot Holiday

The National Insurance Institute announced that all its branches across Israel will be closed to the public from Friday, September 25, to Sunday, October 4, inclusive, for the Sukkot holiday. Regular operations will resume on Monday, October 5. During this period, in-person appointments and phone appointments will not be available, and proactive contact with service representatives will be impossible. The Institute urges those needing urgent assistance to utilize its online services, which remain accessible for submitting applications and contacting representatives digitally. Phone support will operate on a highly limited basis, with full phone service only available on October 4. However, medical committees scheduled during this period will proceed as planned, and individuals with appointments should not cancel their attendance. In anticipation of the holiday closures, payments for long-term benefits, including old-age pensions, disability, long-term care, survivors' benefits, and alimony, were advanced and paid out on September 22. The Institute clarified that this early payment is a shift in the deposit date, not an increase in the benefit amount. Given the short timeframe before the closures, professionals recommend checking in advance whether an action requires a branch visit or can be completed online to avoid unnecessary delays.