Collecting Child Support Through the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi)
Is your children’s other parent failing to pay court-ordered child support? Unfortunately, this is a common problem — but effective legal remedies are available. If you hold a valid child support judgment and meet the eligibility requirements, the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) can step in to ensure your children receive the support they are owed.
When Can You Pursue Enforcement of a Child Support Judgment?
By Igal Mor, Adv. & Notary
Accuracy in Legal Advice. Excellence in legal support.
Understanding Child Support Obligations in Israel
Child support is a recurring monthly payment that one parent is legally obligated to pay to the other to cover the children’s living expenses. The issue of child support typically arises during separation, and the amount is determined either by mutual agreement or by court order. Under Israeli law, the father bears sole financial responsibility for child support until the child reaches age 6. From age 6 onward, both parents share the obligation, with each parent’s contribution calculated based on the custody arrangement and their respective incomes.
Although child support exists to meet the children’s basic needs, many parents fail to pay — violating both a legal obligation and a moral duty. When this occurs, the custodial parent has two primary options: filing a claim with the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) or initiating an enforcement proceeding through the Execution Office.
Filing a Child Support Claim With the National Insurance Institute
To ensure a basic standard of living for the custodial parent and children, the National Insurance Institute pays child support on behalf of the non-paying parent and then pursues collection actions to recover the funds. The amount paid is the lesser of the court-ordered child support amount or the maximum set by National Insurance Institute regulations. If the Institute successfully collects more than what it paid the custodial parent, the surplus is forwarded to the parent. To receive child support through the National Insurance Institute, the following conditions must be met:
Eligibility Requirements for Child Support Through Bituach Leumi
Like any benefit administered by the National Insurance Institute, eligibility for child support payments depends on meeting specific criteria:
Court Judgment: The custodial parent must hold a valid child support judgment issued by the Family Court or Rabbinical Court.
Residency: The non-paying parent must have been an Israeli resident at the time of the ruling, or must have been a resident for at least 24 of the 48 months preceding the ruling.
Income Test: Eligibility is subject to an income threshold based on the custodial parent’s earnings from employment and other sources, adjusted for the number and ages of the children.
Retroactive Child Support Payments
In many cases, a considerable amount of time passes before the custodial parent files a child support claim with the National Insurance Institute — whether due to lack of awareness or the hope that the non-paying parent will eventually fulfill their obligation. This raises the question of whether payments should begin from the date of the court judgment or only from the date of the claim. Under current regulations, retroactive payments of up to one year are available, but only if the custodial parent submits an explicit request. Otherwise, the National Insurance Institute will pay child support only from the filing date forward.
Enforcement of Child Support Through the Execution Office
Child support can also be collected through the enforcement (execution) system rather than the National Insurance Institute. Unlike the Institute — which steps into the non-paying parent’s role and pays the custodial parent directly — the Execution Office transfers payment only if it successfully collects from the obligated parent. Available enforcement measures include wage garnishment, vehicle seizure, travel restrictions, and other sanctions.
In most cases, applying through the National Insurance Institute is preferable because the custodial parent receives payment as long as eligibility conditions are met, regardless of whether the Institute succeeds in collecting from the non-paying parent. However, if the court-ordered child support exceeds the Institute’s regulated maximum, the custodial parent will not receive the full amount through this channel. In such situations, consulting an experienced family law attorney is recommended to determine the most effective collection strategy for your circumstances.
When child support payments go unpaid, the impact on the children’s well-being is immediate and severe. To fully understand your legal options — including enforcement through the Execution Office, contempt of court proceedings, or filing a claim with the National Insurance Institute — we strongly recommend consulting a family law attorney with experience in child support enforcement. Contact Mor & Co. Law Firm to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you secure the child support your family is entitled to.