Survivors' pension in Israel (2026): for widows, widowers and orphans

How much

A seniority increment of 2% is added for each year the deceased was insured, up to 50%. Health insurance is deducted.

With the income supplement, up to age 70, the pension reaches ₪4,375 without children, ₪7,305 with one child and ₪8,426 with two or more. From 70 and from 80 the amounts are slightly higher.

Conditions about the deceased

• They were an Israeli resident at the time of death. If born abroad, they first immigrated before age 60 to 62, depending on date of birth.
• They completed one of the insurance periods: 12 months before death, 24 months in the 5 years before death, 60 months in the 10 years before death, 144 months in total, or 60 months since becoming a resident if insured months outnumber uninsured ones.
• No insurance period is needed if they died within a year of becoming a resident, before age 19, or were the main breadwinner of the partner or children.
• They had no arrears in contributions they had to pay themselves. An employer's debt does not affect the pension.

Widows and widowers

• Widow: was married to the deceased, or his common-law partner living with him for at least a year (six months if she was 55 or older), or had a child with him.
• Widower: the same conditions plus an income test — up to ₪7,848 a month. ₪2,093 is first deducted from work or pension income. If an orphaned child lives with him, there is no income test.
• Partners who lived apart qualify if the separation lasted less than 36 months, if they lived together during part of the last year, or in some other cases such as paying maintenance.
• A widow or widower under 40 without children receives a one-off grant of 36 monthly pensions instead of a monthly pension.

Remarrying ends the pension and triggers a marriage grant of 36 pensions, paid in two parts. If the marriage ends in divorce within 10 years, the pension can resume. Common-law partners count as married, and living together must be reported.

Orphans

• A child counts as an orphan up to 18, up to 20 while finishing secondary school or in a pre-military programme, and up to 24 during regular army or national service.
• An orphan whose parent is not entitled (for example a divorced parent) receives a pension directly: ₪1,142 for an only child, or ₪862 per child when there are more.
• A child who lost both parents can receive two pensions, ₪2,284 for each parent.
• Bar or bat mitzvah grant: ₪7,009, at 13 for boys and 12 for girls.
• Living allowance for an orphan studying from 9th grade up to age 20, at least 24 hours a week: ₪683 a month, or ₪946 if the parent does not receive a survivors' pension. The parent's income is tested.

Survivors' pension with other benefits

• If you are also entitled to the old-age pension and have an insurance period, you receive the full old-age pension plus half the survivors' pension.
• If you are also entitled to a general disability or work disability pension, you choose one. The children keep their survivors' pension either way.
• If the deceased immigrated after 60 to 62 and was not insured, the widow and children may receive the special survivors' benefit — the same amounts, without the seniority increment and with an income test.

Death grant

A grant of ₪10,514 is paid to the partner of someone who, until their death, received the old-age pension, income support, general disability, special services, work injury or survivors' benefits. With no partner, it goes to a child. It is usually paid automatically, and a survivors' pension claim covers it too.

How to claim

1. Fill in the survivors' pension claim on the Bituach Leumi website or on the form. The form lists the documents to attach.
2. Send it online, by post, by fax or through the branch drop box.
3. Track the claim in your personal area and send any documents you are asked for.

The pension is paid on the 28th of each month. If the deceased received an old-age or disability pension, it is paid from the 1st of the month after the death. Claims made more than 12 months after the death are paid at most 12 months back.

Frequently asked questions

Calculators for this topic

• Old-age pension calculator

  How much old-age pension you will get, with the seniority increment and income supplement.

• Retirement age calculator

  Your retirement age and exact date from your date of birth, for women and men.

Worth checking too

• Old-age pension

  A monthly Bituach Leumi pension from retirement age. ₪1,838 single, ₪2,762 for a couple, plus increments. No income test from age 70.

• Senior Income Supplement

  An addition to the old-age pension for people with low income. Brings the pension up to ₪4,375 for a single person and ₪6,912 for a couple.

• Income Support

  A benefit from age 20 for people with no income or low income. Paid only from the month you apply, so do not wait.

Sources

• Bituach Leumi: survivors' insurance (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: eligibility (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: amounts for widows and widowers (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: orphan's pension (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: survivors' grant (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: death grant (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: how to claim (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: with the old-age pension (Hebrew)