Survivors Benefit

The death of a family member is a difficult event — and a financial one. The survivors benefit from Bituach Leumi is intended to provide a safety net for the family. It is important to distinguish it from the survivors pension paid by a pension fund: these are two different things.

Disclosure: Educational information only. Amounts and conditions are updated — verify with Bituach Leumi. Any action you take is your own responsibility.

What the survivors benefit is

The survivors benefit is a monthly payment from the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi), paid to the family of an insured person who has died — primarily the spouse and children. It is funded from the National Insurance contributions the deceased paid, and is intended to help the family cope with the loss of income.

Survivors benefit versus survivors pension

This distinction matters. There are two separate sources:

Survivors benefit — from Bituach Leumi, which is the subject of this guide.

Survivors pension — from the deceased's pension fund, forming part of the insurance cover within the pension. See the pension section.

Family members may be entitled to both simultaneously, which is exactly why it is worth checking both sources rather than assuming one replaces the other.

Who qualifies

In general, those entitled are the spouse of the insured person who died, and their children, up to a defined age. Entitlement and the amount depend on age, family circumstances, and the deceased's insurance record.

In certain cases a one-off grant is also paid. Bituach Leumi determines entitlement according to its rules.

How much

The amount depends on various factors — the spouse's age, children, insurance record — and is updated periodically. Supplements may also apply, for instance for children. The precise figure is worth confirming with Bituach Leumi.

How to claim

You submit a claim for survivors benefit to Bituach Leumi, together with the required documents such as the death certificate and the survivors' details.

As with many other entitlements, submitting matters: the benefit does not arrive automatically. See more life-event entitlements in the benefits section.

Common mistakes

1. Confusing the survivors benefit with the survivors pension — check both.

2. Not submitting a claim. The benefit is not automatic.

3. Not checking entitlement for children and associated grants.

Summary

The survivors benefit is an important safety net for a family after a loss, but it requires a claim, and it should not be confused with the survivors pension from a pension fund, to which you may also be entitled. Check both sources. See pension and the benefits section. We provide the knowledge — the claiming is in your hands.