National Insurance Institute Outlines Maternity Grant Rates and Eligibility Rules

The initial expenses of childbirth and the first days with a newborn can accumulate rapidly, but for families meeting the criteria set by Israel's National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi), financial assistance is available. The grant amounts vary depending on the number of children born.

In some cases, the grant amounts to thousands of shekels, while in multiple births, the sum can reach tens of thousands of shekels.

Grant Amounts and Payment Process

The National Insurance Institute pays a maternity grant designed to assist with the initial expenses of childbirth. In most cases, there is no need to file a claim to receive the grant. For hospital births, once the National Insurance Institute receives a report from the hospital, the grant is automatically deposited into the mother's bank account, usually within a month of the birth.

For the first child, the grant is paid to the bank account provided at the hospital. For subsequent births, it is paid to the bank account where the child allowance is deposited.

The maternity grant amounts are structured as follows:

• First child: 2,103 NIS

• Second child: 946 NIS

• Third child and subsequent children: 631 NIS

In the case of twins, the maternity grant is 10,514 NIS. For triplets, the amount reaches 15,771 NIS. For each additional child in a multiple birth, an additional grant of 5,257 NIS is paid.

Eligibility Criteria and Special Circumstances

Eligibility is not limited to standard births. According to the National Insurance Institute, anyone who gives birth to a live child may be eligible. Under certain conditions, eligibility also applies to home births, stillbirths (after 22 full weeks of pregnancy), adoption (for children up to age 10, excluding the adoption of a spouse's child), and surrogacy.

Residency is a key condition. An Israeli resident is eligible for the grant, and the wife of an Israeli resident may also be eligible, even if the birth took place outside of Israel.

Non-residents may also qualify under specific conditions. The National Insurance Institute states that eligibility applies if the mother worked in Israel during her pregnancy, or if her spouse has been employed in Israel for at least 6 consecutive months prior to the birth, provided the birth took place in Israel. Special conditions apply to residents of the Palestinian Authority and autonomous areas.

For home births, if the mother is admitted to a hospital within 24 hours of the birth for a hospitalization of at least 12 hours, she may be eligible for both the maternity grant and a hospitalization grant. If she does not go to the hospital, the maternity grant can still be paid if a doctor or midwife certifies to the Ministry of Health that the birth was conducted in accordance with regulations, though no hospitalization grant will be paid in this case.

Surrogacy and Claims for Births Abroad

Surrogacy procedures are also covered. Intended parents who receive custody of a child through surrogacy, as well as the surrogate mother, are eligible under established conditions. If intended parents receive more than one child in close succession (where the second birth occurs within 105 days of the first), they may be eligible for a grant equivalent to that of twins or triplets, depending on the number of children.

In some cases, a formal claim must be filed. Israeli residents or wives of residents who give birth abroad must file a claim. In such cases, they may also receive reimbursement for hospital expenses abroad up to the amount of the hospitalization grant paid in Israel, by submitting receipts and detailed invoices.

Similarly, if a premature baby is born abroad, parents can receive reimbursement for neonatal intensive care expenses up to the amount of the premature baby supplement paid in Israel.

Claims must also be filed for adoptions and surrogacy cases. These can be submitted online via the National Insurance Institute website or at a local branch.

Additional Benefits

Alongside the maternity grant, the National Insurance Institute funds amniocentesis tests for women aged 35 to 37, from the 16th to the 28th week of pregnancy. This funding is processed automatically based on Ministry of Health reports, without requiring a claim.

Furthermore, families who become parents to three or more children simultaneously may also be eligible for a monthly maternity allowance, subject to the conditions set by the National Insurance Institute. All eligibility rules apply equally to same-sex couples, adoptive parents, surrogate mothers, and intended parents.