Sderot Seeks More Time for Residents to Use NIS 7,300 Treatment Allowance

Sderot municipality has appealed for more time for eligible residents to use their treatment and rehabilitation allowance. Mayor Alon Davidi said a municipal review found that most eligible residents had used less than half their allowance, which the city puts at NIS 7,300 per person. Davidi said: “...we approached National Insurance and asked that they be given more time.” The request was also raised at a working meeting between municipal and National Insurance representatives. According to the municipality's account, final approval involves the National Insurance Council and the Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee. Davidi urged the committee to convene and approve the extension. The National Insurance Institute's benefit record covers people who were present on October 7, 2023 in Gaza-border communities, combat areas or southern festivals, including off-duty security personnel, as well as specified relatives of people killed or abducted. Covered services include higher education, vocational and certificate studies, matriculation completion, qualified mental-health treatment, listed complementary treatments, children's mentoring, educational and attention assessments, and remedial instruction. Under the published reimbursement procedure, recipients pay an eligible institution or provider and submit an online claim with receipts, subject to their entitlement. Qualifying services can date from October 7, 2023. The agency's current record sets December 31, 2026 as the final date for submitting receipts; the municipality's requested extension is awaiting approval.