Initial legislation covered a national insurance system for old-age and survivor pensions, work injuries, and maternity insurance. The first pensions were paid to survivors in 1955 and to elderly pensioners in 1957. Coverage has since been extended to include children allowances, unemployment, general disability, and a range of other small national insurance schemes. In addition, there are a number of other programs which the NII is responsible for implementing, including alimony, income maintenance, victims of hostilities, mobility allowances, Prisoners of Zion, offspring of martyrs, and righteous gentiles. The reasons are related to either old-age, disability, widowhood, or full or partial loss of the ability to work.
Benefits are unrelated to prior income.
Wage substitution programs for those who are temporarily unable to earn an income. Child allowance for families whose main income is derived from work. These benefits are paid directly to the families and supplement earned income. Rehabilitation and maintenance programs for the disabled, survivors, and elderly in need of chronic, nonmedical care. One important function added to the NII recently has been the responsibility for the collection of health insurance premiums for the National Health Insurance Law.