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Exercise of Rights for Family Caregivers

Entitlements
Presi Adiri, MSW (master's degree in social work), Senior Director of Community Mental Health Support and Rehabilitation Services in the Mental Health Division, Ministry of Health
26 January 2026

Family members of people with disabilities, including those with mental issues, play a central role in caring for, supporting, and maintaining the quality of life of their loved ones. This is an important role that often requires a lot of time, resources, and emotional coping. The State of Israel recognizes this and grants rights and benefits to family members who provide care.

To maximize your rights, it is recommended to use the help of the family centers that are operated by professionals and provide support, guidance, and coping tools, along with additional services that promote recovery. You can also use the help of a social worker who accompanies the family in the community, through the HMO, in the local authority's welfare department, or in a rehabilitation institution where the family member is hospitalized.

This page concentrates the main rights and supports for family members who provide care, according to the laws of the State of Israel and the arrangements of government ministries.

  • Tax credit points: Family members who are caregivers (child, parent, spouse) may be eligible for 2 credit points or more, depending on the functional status of the person being treated.
  • Tax refund for treatment expenses: You can request a tax refund for treatment expenses, accompaniment, medications and medical aids, subject to the criteria and by submitting Form 116A, medical certificates and disability certificates.

Additional information on the Israel Tax Authority website

  • Dependent's allowance supplement: If a family member is eligible for disability allowance, you may also be able to receive supplements for dependents.
  • Care allowance for family members who provide care: Family members who provide care for mentally challenged people who are eligible for a nursing care allowance in addition to the disability allowance, can receive a salary for this. To receive the salary, they need to register as a caregiver and receive the salary through a nursing care company. More information about nursing care allowance

Additional information about rights, benefits and discounts on the National Insurance website.

  • Assistance to caregiving families through the welfare offices in local authorities: Social support, support programs, referral to appropriate services.
  • Legal services or mediation with medical and institutional bodies.

Additional information at the welfare office nearest to your place of residence

  • Paid sick days for caregivers: Family members who work as salaried employees or are self-employed can receive paid sick days for caring for a first-degree relative, based on documents.
  • Flexible working hours: According to the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law, employers are required to take into account the family-health situation.
  • Protection against dismissal: Due to reasonable absences for care purposes.
  • Prohibition of discrimination: The law prohibits discrimination against an employee because they are a family member caring for a person with a disability.
  • Eligibility for severance pay: An employee who resigns due to the poor health of a family member may be entitled to severance pay from the employer.

In Israel, there are organizations that specialize in rights, and you can try to use their help:

  • Bizchut – an organization for the promotion of human rights of people with disabilities in Israel.
  • Yad Mechavenet – consultation and preparation services for medical committees of the National Insurance Institute.
  • Kol Zchut website – a comprehensive database on the rights of Israeli residents and the way to realize them.

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