Acting National Insurance CEO Criticizes Autism Benefit Claims Amid Public Backlash

On Wednesday, Tzvika Cohen, the acting CEO of Israel's National Insurance Institute, sparked controversy by claiming that some parents boast about "hitting the jackpot" when their children are diagnosed with autism. Speaking at a Brookdale Institute conference, Cohen described the rise in autism diagnoses as a social phenomenon, noting that increased recognition and higher benefit scores have led to a significant societal shift. He asserted that some people openly seek autism diagnoses to receive government benefits, saying, "People understood there is a benefit. There is no longer shame about it. They do it openly."

Cohen acknowledged structural issues within the system, explaining that currently, children on the autism spectrum receive full benefits without gradation. To address this, the National Insurance Institute has formed a team with the Ministry of Health to develop a tiered system. He also criticized some parents for allegedly visiting private doctors to obtain diagnoses or sick leave unjustifiably.

During the event, a mother of two autistic children confronted Cohen, accusing him of defaming families and urged him to retract his statements. Cohen responded that those entitled to benefits receive them but maintained that some cases are problematic, emphasizing that public funds are involved.

The Israeli Autism Association (Be'ALUT) strongly condemned Cohen's remarks, clarifying that families often resort to private diagnoses due to long public wait times and do so to secure necessary treatments for their children. The association called on the government to address issues with diagnosticians exploiting the system rather than blaming autistic individuals and their families.