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Rights of cancer patients and survivors in Israel: benefits, tax relief and insurance

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In short

During treatment: Bituach Leumi

  • General disability pension: if you cannot work or your capacity to work has dropped sharply. Sometimes the percentage is set from documents alone, without a committee. Entitlement can be temporary or permanent.
  • Fast track: patients with a malignant disease in active treatment get priority, and Bituach Leumi aims to decide within 30 days.
  • With a 100% degree of incapacity for at least six months, the pension is paid from the 31st day rather than the 91st.
  • 'First Class': in hospital, you can file general disability and special services claims through the hospital social worker.
  • Special services: with chemotherapy from the drug list, 50% automatically for six months. Others are invited to a committee that assesses their need for help.

Income tax

  • Income tax exemption under section 9(5): with a medical disability of 90% or more for 185 days or more. Submit Form 169 and medical documents to the tax assessing officer.
  • If the exemption was not applied to your wages in time, you can claim a tax refund up to 6 years back.

Insurance and pensions

  • Critical illness insurance: a lump sum under the policy, if the diagnosis came after the policy started. For policies taken out or renewed from 25.11.2020 you can claim up to 5 years after diagnosis; for older ones, up to 3 years.
  • Loss of working capacity: a monthly benefit after a waiting period, usually 3 months, under the policy terms.
  • Disability pension from a comprehensive pension fund: if you lose at least 25% of your working capacity for more than 90 days.
  • The Ministry of Finance's Har HaBituach site shows all your policies, including group insurance through work.

After treatment: recovery

  • Towards the end of a temporary entitlement you are asked for recent medical documents to check whether it continues. If you have recovered and do not want an examination, you can ask to cancel the committee.
  • Vocational rehabilitation: survivors with a permanent disability of 20% or more who cannot return to their previous work can get assessment, funded studies and job placement — even without a disability pension.

Other benefits

  • Exemption from Bituach Leumi contributions: if you receive a general disability pension of 75% or more, permanently or for at least a year in a row.
  • Disability card: discounts on public transport and elsewhere. Special services recipients also skip queues.
  • Arnona discounts and disabled parking badges are given by the local authority and the Ministry of Transport, under their own rules.

Free advice and committee preparation: Bituach Leumi's Yad Mechavenet centres, *2496.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cancer patient entitled to a disability pension?

Yes, if they cannot work or their capacity to work has dropped sharply. The claim is fast-tracked, and sometimes the percentage is set from documents alone.

Are cancer patients exempt from income tax?

Not automatically. The exemption applies to a medical disability of 90% or more for at least 185 days, set by a medical committee on a request to the Tax Authority.

Can cancer patients get the long-term care benefit?

Long-term care is for people of retirement age. Before that, people who need help with daily activities can get the special services allowance — automatically with chemotherapy from the list.

How long does a disability claim take?

On the fast track Bituach Leumi aims to finish within 30 days of receiving the claim. In hospital, you can claim through the social worker.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Disability Tax Exemption (9(5))

    People with a disability of 90% or more, or who are blind, pay no income tax on earnings up to ₪445,200 a year.

  • Critical Illness Insurance

    A lump sum after a diagnosis on the policy's list, such as cancer, heart attack or stroke.

  • Loss of Working Capacity Insurance

    A policy that pays monthly when illness or injury stops you working. Many people are covered through managers' insurance and do not know it.

  • 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.

Sources

This is general information, not legal advice. Amounts are correct as of the review date and change every January.