Special Services Benefit Amounts for 2026 Revealed
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
Israel's National Insurance Institute has set the 2026 Special Services (Sher"m) benefit amounts, ranging from 1,943 to 9,126 shekels monthly based on dependency levels. This benefit funds personal assistance and supervision for those with medical conditions requiring help with daily activities. Supplements are available for respirator use, additional caregivers, and young children. Eligibility requires being at least 18, a resident, and meeting specific disability criteria, with dependency assessed through a home visit.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Special Services benefit amounts for 2026 will range from 1,943 to 9,126 shekels monthly based on dependency.
- The benefit aims to cover costs for personal assistance and supervision due to medical conditions.
- Additional supplements are available for respirator use, additional caregivers, and children under three.
- Eligibility requires being at least 18, a resident, and meeting specific medical disability thresholds.
- Dependency levels are determined through a home visit assessment by a National Insurance Institute evaluator.
- Appeals can be made to the National Insurance Appeals Committee and the Labor Court.
Israel's National Insurance Institute (Bituah Leumi) has announced the benefit amounts for Special Services (Sher"m) in 2026, which are determined by an individual's level of dependency. The monthly payments will range from 1,943 shekels for the lowest dependency level to 9,126 shekels for the highest.
The Special Services benefit is intended to fund personal assistance and constant supervision for individuals whose medical condition requires significant help with daily activities. Unlike general disability pensions, which replace lost income, Sher"m is designed to cover the costs of care, such as caregiver hours, accompaniment to treatments, and nighttime supervision. The benefit is assessed based on actual dependency, not solely on medical disability percentages.
In 2026, the benefit amounts are set at approximately 1,943 shekels for 50% dependency, 4,501 shekels for 112% dependency, 7,181 shekels for 188% dependency, and 9,126 shekels for 235% dependency. These amounts are updated annually in January. Individuals receiving a full general disability pension of 4,711 shekels in 2026 would receive both pensions if eligible for Sher"m, potentially totaling 9,212 shekels for the 112% dependency level.
Additional supplements are available for specific circumstances. Those eligible for at least the 188% dependency level and requiring a 24-hour respirator will receive an extra 10,774 shekels. An additional caregiver supplement of 7,182 shekels is available under certain conditions. Parents with a child under three years old can receive a supplement of 1,215 shekels per child, up to two children.
Eligibility for Sher"m requires being at least 18 years old, a resident of Israel, and meeting specific medical disability criteria: at least 40% for those already receiving a general disability pension, or at least 75% for those who are not, with income limits for the latter group. The core of the assessment is a home visit by a professional evaluator to determine the extent of assistance needed for mobility, dressing, bathing, eating, and personal hygiene, as well as the need for supervision. The benefit determination process can be lengthy, and individuals have the right to appeal decisions to the National Insurance Appeals Committee and, subsequently, to the Labor Court within 12 months.
