Benefits for Widows and Widowers

Information last updated on 01.02.2026

What are benefits?

Widows and widowers of fallen IDF soldiers and security forces are legally entitled to monthly benefits and various services aimed at easing, even slightly, the daily challenges as they cope with grief and loss.

The monthly benefit slip includes various fixed and variable components depending on each family's details.

Here is a guide to help you read and understand the monthly benefits slip for widows and widowers of fallen IDF and security forces.

הסכומים עודכנו בהתאם לתיקון החוק (1.2.26)

Benefit components

A widow is entitled to a monthly benefit consisting of a basic amount and an additional "gross up" amount that varies according to the widow's age, the number of orphans, and their ages.

Fixed monthly payment

Widow under the age of 60, without children – 10,525.4 ₪.
Widow over the age of 60, without children – 11,531.56 ₪ (includes a 10% "age supplement").
Widow with one child under the age of 18 – 12,995.44 ₪.
Widow with one child aged 18-21 – 12,426.65 ₪.
A widow with an orphan over the age of 21 who is still serving in the IDF will continue to receive benefits for the orphan.
Widow with one child aged 21-24 – 11,674.79 ₪.
Widow under the age of 60 with orphans over the age of 24 - 10,525.4 ₪.
Widow over the age of 60 with orphans over the age of 24 - 11,531.56 ₪.

Child supplement: For each child, from the second child onward - 1,268.95 ₪ until the age of 21.

*Payments will vary according to the number of children and their ages.

Example of a benefits slip *Image for illustration purposes only

Health insurance

According to the Fallen Soldiers' Families Law, the department participates in the payment of national health insurance.

The participation amount is determined after checking the existence of an income source - whether the widow has or does not have an income source or payment from which health insurance fees are deducted, such as: salary, pension, and National Insurance Institute allowance.

Health insurance participation amounts:

Widow with health insurance deduction – 182 ₪ - appears on the benefits slip as a benefit.
Widow receiving an old-age pension – 118.5 ₪ - appears on the benefits slip as a benefit.
Widow without a health insurance deduction source (not receiving a National Insurance Institute allowance) - 120 ₪, of which 60 ₪ will be deducted from the monthly benefit and an additional 60 ₪ from the department, which will be transferred directly to National Insurance Institute - appears on the benefits slip as a deduction.

Please note

During the first meeting with the social worker, you will be provided with the relevant forms to fill out.

Relevant forms
National health insurance fees for individuals

If there has been a change or you have found an error in the status defined for you – employed/unemployed/receiving an allowance – please contact the call center: 03-7776700.

Monthly mobility allowance

Widows and widowers will automatically receive a monthly mobility allowance as an alternative to vehicle benefits, starting from the second month after the loss, in the amount of 463 ₪, provided they have not received vehicle assistance.

Please note

If you own a vehicle and have received a mobility allowance on your benefits slip instead of participation in the vehicle insurance and annual licensing fees, please provide a copy of your vehicle license to the welfare worker.

Automatic additional payment for orphans:

Widows and widowers with children (children of the fallen) up to the age of 6 are entitled to a monthly supplement to finance the expenses of caring for young children, such as: a nanny, daycare or kindergartens, or any other relevant expense in the field of care and education of orphans of these ages.

Orphans 0 - 3 months old - 6,000 ₪ supplement per orphan.
Orphans 3 months to 3 years old - 3,000 ₪ supplement per orphan.
Orphans 3 - 6 years old - 1,500 ₪ supplement per orphan.

Please note

The supplement will be paid automatically through the monthly benefits until the orphan turns 6 years old.

Annual / automatic payments

Memorial expenses

Annual assistance in the amount of 1,109 ₪, paid one month before the memorial month, starting from the second year after the loss.

In the case of a second loss, the widow will receive assistance of 1,109 ₪ on the memorial date of each fallen individual. For example, if one fell in February and another in September, an amount of 1,109 ₪ will be paid in the January benefits and the same amount in the August benefits. A total of 2,218 ₪ in a calendar year.

Example of memorial expenses line in the benefits slip *Image for illustration purposes only

Annual convalescence

An annual convalescence grant is paid to widows and widowers once a year in June for the period January-December. In the first year, the grant will be paid partially and proportionally to the eligibility period from the date of the loss until December 31 of that year.

The grant is calculated according to the convalescence day rate, based on the rates of the Civil Service Commission.

A widow is entitled to payment for 8 days - totaling 3,771.2 ₪.

*Image for illustration purposes only

Participation in landline expenses

An automatic payment made annually in the January benefits, in the amount of 322 ₪.

In the first year, the benefit will be paid partially and proportionally to the eligibility period from the date of the loss until December 31 of that year.

Special periodic grant (grant for widows and widowers)

The grant will be paid for the first time close to the date of the loss, and thereafter automatically every seven years in the month of the loss.

The grant amount is 6,165 ₪.

Vehicle insurance

A widow is entitled to participation in vehicle insurance expenses once a year, in December for the following calendar year (e.g. in the December 2024 benefits, the participation for 2025 was paid), in the amount of 5,286 ₪.

This payment is an alternative to the monthly mobility allowance paid to those who do not own a vehicle.

More on vehicle insurance and licensing fees

Educational and extracurricular grants for orphans

Widows and widowers with orphans are entitled to a grant to cover expenses related to extracurricular activities and school, for each child. The grant will be paid automatically in the August benefits for the upcoming school year, according to the orphan's grade (based on age).

Grades 1-6: grant amount: 2,153 ₪.
Grades 7-10: grant amount: 2,538 ₪.
Grades 11-12: grant amount: 3,448 ₪.

One-time / automatic payments

Mourning expenses

Widows and widowers are entitled to a one-time grant as participation in mourning expenses in the amount of 8,795 ₪.

The grant will be transferred to the family by representatives of the Soldier Commemoration Unit, starting from the end of the "Shiva" period until the end of the first 30 days of mourning ("Shloshim") period, and after providing bank account details, regardless of recognition as a bereaved family.

Commemoration grant

A one-time grant in the amount of 9,156 ₪, which will be paid one year from the date of recognition and transferred directly to the bank account.

To receive the grant during the first year after the loss, you can contact the Soldier Commemoration Unit via the call center: 03-7776700.

Example of commemoration grant line in the benefits slip *Image for illustration purposes only

Post bereavement convalescence grant

A one-time Convalescence grant provided close to the date of the loss.

The grant will be approved for those who submitted a recognition application within 24 months of the loss and will be paid after recognition is granted, regardless of the duration of the recognition process.

Convalescence grant amounts for widows and widowers:

Widow and widower are entitled to payment for 10 days - in the amount of 4,714 ₪.
For each orphan under the age of 21 a supplement for 3 days will be paid – in the amount of 1,414.2 ₪.

Example of recuperation after disaster line in the benefits slip *Image for illustration purposes only

Bar/Bat-mitzvah grant

A one-time grant for a 12-year-old orphaned girl and a 13-year-old orphaned boy, in the amount of 10,978 ₪, which will be paid in the month of their birthday.

The grant will be transferred through the widow's benefits.

Possible additional payments

Additional payment to widows and widowers without income

An additional payment will be granted to a widow whose monthly income, from any source, does not exceed 671.83 ₪.

In the case of a married widow, the spouse's income will also be examined. If their total income from any source does not exceed 767.93 ₪, the additional payment will be transferred to the widow.

The additional payment is in the amount of 1,729.88 ₪.

Allowances not considered as income: old-age pension, general disability pension, child allowance, compensation for health damages caused by Nazi persecution, housing assistance from the Ministry of Housing, National Insurance Institute nursing allowance, compensation for polio victims, assistance provided for guiding the blind, and benefits based on the degree of disability granted under the Disabled Persons Law.