Appealing a Bituach Leumi decision: where, how fast and how
In short
- Where you appeal depends on what was decided. Disability percentages and incapacity go to an appeals committee, usually within 60 days. Disabled child and special services: 90 days. Work injury: 30 days.
- A non-medical decision — about income, residency, age or work periods — is challenged by a claim to the regional Labour Court within 12 months.
- For many benefits a rejected claim can first go to the claims committee, within 6 months. It does not stop the 12-month clock for the court.
- Free advice: Bituach Leumi's Yad Mechavenet centres, *2496, and free legal aid from the Ministry of Justice for court appeals.
Where to appeal and how fast
| Decision | Where | Within |
|---|---|---|
| General disability: medical disability below 80% | Medical appeals committee | 60 days |
| General disability: incapacity up to 74%, or a finding that you did not lose capacity | Appeals committee | 60 days |
| Work injury: percentage, start date or temporary disability | Medical appeals committee | 30 days, reasons within 60 |
| Disabled child: not approved, partial, temporary or without full back pay | Appeals committee | 90 days |
| Special services: rejection, amount or start date | Special services appeals committee | 90 days |
| Long-term care: rejection or level | Advisory committee, or the Labour Court | 60 days to the committee |
| Non-medical decision: income, residency, age, work periods, unemployment and more | Regional Labour Court | 12 months |
| An appeals committee decision | Regional Labour Court, on a point of law only | 60 days |
Special services has a condition: the appeals committee hears people who receive general disability with a medical disability of at least 60%, people who do not and have at least 75%, or people entitled before retirement age. Others appeal the percentage to the medical appeals committee within 30 days. Alimony decisions go to the court within 6 months.
How to appeal to a committee
- Write the appeal with reasons: what is wrong with the decision. For example, an impairment that was not examined, a document the committee did not consider, or a condition that has worsened.
- Attach recent medical documents. The committee's minutes come with the decision letter.
- Submit at a Bituach Leumi branch or through the document upload service on the website. For long-term care, say whether you want to attend or have the committee decide on the documents.
An appeals committee can also lower your percentage. In general disability and work injury it tells you if it is considering that, and you can then withdraw the appeal. In work injury Bituach Leumi may also appeal within 30 days, and its appeal cannot be withdrawn. In long-term care an appeal cannot lower your level.
The claims committee: a second look without court
- Available when a claim was rejected for: maternity, old age, survivors, general disability, special services, disabled child, work disability, work injury allowance, accident allowance, dependants, unemployment, child allowance and reserve duty.
- File form BL/910 at a branch or online within 6 months of the date of the rejection letter.
- The committee meets once a month, without you. Its decision is a recommendation to the claims officer.
- It does not hear incapacity, medical decisions, rehabilitation, residency, income support or alimony.
Important: going to the claims committee does not extend the 12 months to file with the Labour Court.
The Labour Court
- Without a lawyer, you can hand in your documents at any labour court in the country, and they are sent on to the right one.
- You can ask for free legal aid from the Ministry of Justice legal aid offices.
- A regional court judgment can be appealed to the National Labour Court in Jerusalem.
- Courts information centre: 077-270-3333 or *3852.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to appeal a Bituach Leumi decision?
To an appeals committee usually 60 days; 90 days for disabled child and special services; 30 days for work injury. To the Labour Court 12 months, and 60 days against an appeals committee decision.
Where do I file an appeal with Bituach Leumi?
A committee appeal is filed in writing at a branch or through the document upload service on the website. A Labour Court claim is filed with the court.
Can I appeal a medical appeals committee decision?
Only on a point of law, for example if the committee gave no reasons or did not examine an impairment. File with the regional Labour Court within 60 days.
Can an appeal lower my disability percentage?
Yes, the committee can lower it too. If it is considering that, it tells you, and you can withdraw the appeal. In long-term care the level cannot go down.
Do I need a lawyer to appeal?
No. Yad Mechavenet gives free advice, and for court you can ask the Ministry of Justice for free legal aid.
Calculators for this topic
Disability pension calculator
The pension by degree of incapacity, dependants' supplements and the effect of earnings.
Long-term care calculator
Weekly care hours and cash options for levels 1 to 6, with the income test.
Worth checking too
Preparing for a medical committee
What to prepare, what happens in the room, expense refunds and appeal deadlines. Most health-related benefits go through the committee.
General Disability Allowance
A monthly allowance for people whose earning capacity fell by at least 50% because of illness, injury or a birth defect. Up to ₪4,711 a month.
Disabled Child Benefit
For parents of a child with an illness, impairment or dependence on others, from 91 days to 18. ₪1,943–₪9,126 a month, up to a year back.
Attendance Allowance
For people aged 18 to retirement age who need a lot of help from another person with daily activities, or supervision. ₪1,943–₪9,126 a month.
Long-Term Care Benefit
For people of retirement age who need help bathing, dressing, eating or moving around at home. Care hours or cash, in 6 levels.
Work Injury Allowance
Compensation for lost pay after a work accident or occupational disease: 75% of pay, for up to 91 days. Includes accidents on the way to work.
Sources
- Bituach Leumi: appeal to the Labour Court (Hebrew)
- Bituach Leumi: claims committee (Hebrew)
- Bituach Leumi: appealing disability percentage and incapacity (Hebrew)
- Bituach Leumi: special services appeals (Hebrew)
- Bituach Leumi: disabled child appeals (Hebrew)
- Bituach Leumi: long-term care appeals (Hebrew)
- Bituach Leumi: work injury medical appeals committee (Hebrew)
- Appeals committees regulations (Wikisource, Hebrew)
This is general information, not legal advice. Amounts are correct as of the review date and change every January.