In October 2026, the Smart Chesed program continued to provide comprehensive social, legal, and financial assistance to Israeli citizens facing difficult life circumstances.
The main areas of work included applying for and increasing government benefits, protecting the rights of children with disabilities and special educational needs, arranging food assistance, supporting large and single-parent families, and providing legal assistance in family disputes.
Particular attention was given to families with children, people with chronic illnesses, single parents, and individuals experiencing serious financial hardship.
During the month, the foundation handled 13 cases. In several cases, tangible results were achieved: an increase in a monthly benefit, the transfer of a child to a suitable educational institution, the replacement of a state-appointed lawyer, the arrangement of psychological support, and the regular provision of food.
Actual Assistance Provided (Including the First Year of New Benefits): ₪85,900
This includes:
- A confirmed monthly benefit increase of ₪2,000, equivalent to ₪24,000 over the first year.
- The market value of social consultations, document preparation, and assistance with applications to government agencies.
- Legal assistance and support in family disputes.
- Arranging educational and psychological support for children.
- Arranging dental treatment at a reduced cost.
- Regular food assistance for families in need.
- Consultations on government benefits and social support.
The value of services was calculated using the estimated rates applied in previous program reports.
Food assistance was estimated at approximately ₪4,000 per family per year. The actual cost depends on the contents of the food packages and the length of time they are provided.
Long-Term Benefit (Beyond the First Year) from Already Confirmed Payments: ₪24,000
Thanks to the work of the social worker, Nurana Tairov, 46, a mother of four with a recognized disability, received an increase of ₪2,000 in her monthly Bituach Leumi benefit.
The annual value of this increase is:
₪2,000 × 12 = ₪24,000.
The first year of payments is already included in the actual assistance provided.
If the approved increase remains in place in subsequent years, the family will receive an additional ₪24,000 each year.
Long-term benefit beyond the first year: ₪24,000 for each subsequent full year in which the increased benefit is paid.
The duration of the benefit award still needs to be clarified, so the amount for the second year is a projection.
Potential Annual Benefit (Applications Still Under Review): ₪54,000
Based on the following assumptions:
Three cases involve applications for, or reinstatement of, government benefits:
- M., 62 — increase in a Bituach Leumi benefit.
- E., 39 — reinstatement of a social supplement.
- E., 45 — application for a disability benefit for her daughter.
The estimated average additional payment is ₪1,500 per month.
Estimated annual amount:
₪1,500 × 12 × 3 = ₪54,000.
This amount represents a potential benefit and is not included in the assistance actually provided.
1. M., 62. Afula
She requested help increasing her Bituach Leumi benefit. Our social worker reviewed her situation and determined that M. may be eligible for an increase. To proceed, she needs to collect a number of documents, and she has received a list of the required paperwork. M. is currently gathering the documents. We will continue to support her throughout the process.
Assistance provided:
Consultation and review of social entitlements — ₪1,200
Preparation of a document checklist and assistance with the application — ₪1,500
Total: ₪2,700
Potential benefit: an increase in her benefit following review of the documents.
2. A., 40. Bat Yam
He wanted to increase his Bituach Leumi benefit because he has several medical conditions, including incurable epilepsy. A. currently works full-time. To qualify for an increased benefit, he would need to reduce his working hours and earn less than the subsistence threshold. At present, A. is not ready to reduce his hours. We agreed to stay in touch, and if working full-time becomes too difficult for him, our social worker will help him apply for a supplement to his existing benefit.
Assistance provided:
Consultation on social entitlements — ₪1,200
Review of eligibility for an additional benefit — ₪1,500
Total: ₪2,700
3. E., 39. Yokneam
E. sought help because she is facing an extremely difficult situation on several fronts. She is a single mother of two children, works only a quarter of a full-time position, and has had her benefit supplement canceled by Bituach Leumi. Our social worker collected all the necessary documents and arranged a meeting with the municipal social services department. Until then, the department had not been aware of how critical E.'s situation was. Following our meeting, social services reached an agreement with E.'s employer to increase her salary so that her supplement could be reinstated. E. also suffers from a dental condition. The social worker arranged for a clinic in Jerusalem to provide her with discounted dental treatment. Starting in November, E. will also receive food assistance from social services.
Assistance provided:
Document preparation — ₪2,500
Arranging a meeting with social services — ₪1,200
Assistance with reinstating the supplement — ₪1,500
Arranging discounted dental treatment — ₪1,200
Food assistance (estimated annual value) — ₪4,000
Total: ₪10,400
4. D., 43. Petah Tikva
D. is the mother of Lina, for whom we previously held a fundraising campaign and who received expensive medical treatment in the United States. Unfortunately, because of her prolonged illness, Lina has fallen somewhat behind her peers in her development. She was assigned to a school for children with very limited functional abilities. This would have been a step backward for Lina's development, so her mother contacted us for help changing schools. Our social worker reviewed the situation and gathered the necessary documents and psychoeducational assessments. D. was advised on where to submit them. Lina was transferred to a small class in a mainstream school.
Assistance provided:
Preparation of educational and medical documents — ₪2,500
Consultation and assistance with the school transfer — ₪2,500
Total: ₪5,000
5. R., 49. Beersheba
R. works as a caregiver for an elderly woman who is recognized as a Holocaust survivor. The woman is married to a man who has the same status. The caregiver requested that prepared meals be arranged for the couple. Our social worker investigated the situation and discovered that the couple had a combined allocation of 60 hours of caregiving, yet the caregiver was not even preparing their meals. The social worker sent a complaint to R.'s employer regarding her failure to fulfill her duties and requested that she be replaced. The company is currently investigating the matter, and we will continue to monitor the situation.
Assistance provided:
Review of caregiving arrangements — ₪1,200
Preparation of a formal complaint — ₪1,500
Follow-up on the investigation — ₪1,200
Total: ₪3,900
6. T., 36. Holon
T. spent three months abroad and did not work during that period. He contacted us for help paying his rent. Unfortunately, we were unable to assist with this particular request. However, our social worker arranged for him to receive fresh food once a week.
Assistance provided:
Social consultation — ₪1,200
Food assistance (estimated annual value) — ₪4,000
Total: ₪5,200
7. E., 48. Haifa
E. is the mother of a boy with high-functioning autism. Because of ongoing problems with his classmates, the boy can no longer continue attending his previous school, and E. wants to transfer him to homeschooling. Our social worker helped gather all the necessary documents. The committee hearing on the proposed transfer is scheduled for December. We will continue to assist E. until her son is transferred to homeschooling.
Assistance provided:
Document preparation — ₪2,500
Assistance with the application to the education authorities — ₪1,500
Total: ₪4,000
8. A., 37. Karmiel
A. initially approached the foundation to request a targeted fundraising campaign. However, after hearing his story, we decided that his children needed help from a social worker. A. and his wife are going through a difficult divorce, and the children are currently living with their father under a court order. We contacted social services to arrange food assistance for the children. Starting in November, they will receive grains and canned food. We also contacted the children's schools to request psychological support. The eldest boy has already begun receiving help from a specialist. We will continue to support the family and protect the children's interests.
Assistance provided:
Social support for the family — ₪2,500
Arranging food assistance (estimated annual value) — ₪4,000
Contact with educational institutions — ₪1,500
Arranging psychological support — ₪1,200
Total: ₪9,200
9. R., 23. Ashkelon
R. initially requested help obtaining various government benefits. Unfortunately, we were unable to assist with these applications because her husband works unofficially and cannot provide proof of income. R. is currently expecting her second child, and we connected her with an organization that helps families obtain essential items for newborns.
Assistance provided:
Consultation on social entitlements — ₪1,200
Arranging assistance for a newborn — ₪1,200
Total: ₪2,400
10. E., 45. Jerusalem
E. requested help applying for disability status and benefits for her daughter, who has a heart condition. Our social worker provided a detailed consultation and explained which medical documents needed to be collected. E. is currently gathering the required documents. We will continue supporting her through the process until she secures disability status for her daughter.
Assistance provided:
Consultation on applying for benefits — ₪1,200
Preparation of a list of required medical documents — ₪1,500
Total: ₪2,700
11. R., 35. Karmiel
R. is going through a difficult divorce. A restraining order currently prevents her from having contact with her children. R. is entitled to a free legal aid lawyer, but she was dissatisfied with her lawyer's work because she still had not regained access to her children. Our social worker gathered the necessary documents and filed a request with the Legal Aid Department to replace her lawyer. Her lawyer was replaced.
Assistance provided:
Preparation of legal documents — ₪2,500
Assistance with the request to replace the lawyer — ₪1,500
Total: ₪4,000
12. A., 21. Tel Aviv
A. initially contacted us for help financing a move from one apartment to another. Unfortunately, we could not provide assistance with moving costs. We offered to arrange food assistance for Andrey, but he declined.
Assistance provided:
Social consultation — ₪1,200
Total: ₪1,200
13. N., 46
N. is a single mother of four children. She approached us seeking any assistance available. She has a recognized disability due to multiple sclerosis. Our social worker collected all the necessary documents, and N. was awarded an additional ₪2,000 in benefits. Starting in November, she also began receiving weekly food assistance from the municipality.
Assistance provided:
Document preparation — ₪2,500
Assistance with the Bituach Leumi application — ₪1,500
Benefit increase: ₪2,000 × 12 months = ₪24,000
Food assistance (estimated annual value) — ₪4,000
Total: ₪32,000
Summary
In October 2026, the Smart Chesed program provided support in 13 cases involving applications for social benefits, protection of children's rights, legal assistance, food provision, and the resolution of difficult family matters.
The main results included:
- A ₪2,000 increase in the monthly benefit of a mother of four, equivalent to ₪24,000 per year.
- The transfer of a child who had undergone prolonged medical treatment to a more suitable school class.
- The arrangement of regular food assistance for several families in need.
- Psychological support for a child experiencing his parents' difficult divorce.
- The replacement of a state-appointed lawyer at the applicant's request.
- The arrangement of discounted dental treatment and coordination with social services.
- Preparation of documents for new benefit applications and education committee hearings.
The total preliminary value of assistance provided is ₪85,900, including the first year of Nurana Tairov's confirmed monthly benefit increase.
The long-term financial benefit is ₪24,000 for each subsequent full year in which the approved increase remains in effect.
The potential annual benefit from pending applications is approximately ₪54,000.
The combined estimated value of actual, long-term, and potential assistance for October 2026 is ₪163,900.
Work on pending cases is ongoing. The foundation will continue supporting applicants until final decisions are made regarding government benefits, educational matters, and other necessary support measures.