Subsidies for Early Childhood Daycare Programs

Sibsud LeMaon VeMishpachton סבסוד למעון ומשפחתון

Support for Parents of Babies and Toddlers

Tuition assistance, sometimes referred to as Darga – דרגה – level (of assistance), according to specific criteria is provided to parents of babies and toddlers under three years old (who are not covered by the Compulsory Education Law) and who are in Maon – מעון or Mishpachton – משפחתון – Day Care centers.

Types of Assistance

Support for Working Parents – In order to be considered a Working Parent, one needs to be either a Salaried Worker or Self Employed and have at least three or more children in Maon or Mishpachton. In all categories subsidy amounts are dependent on actual income. 

Please Note: Unless otherwise indicated all Kol Zchut entries are in Hebrew!

Support for Studying Parents – To be considered Studying Parents, at least one parent must be studying in a state-recognized study program (University, College, Ulpan etc.). 

Support for Single Parents – Eligibility is determined according to family income

Support for Parents Volunteering in Sherut Leumi Ezrachi – שירות לאומי אזרחי National-Civic Service – Eligibility is determined based on family income, where at least one parent volunteers in Sherut Leumi Ezrachi, and the other parent belongs to one of the following groups: working parents, studying parents, those eligible for unemployment benefits, soldiers in compulsory service, those eligible for income support, and those receiving disability benefits. 

Support for Parents Serving as Soldiers in Sherut Chova – שרות חובה- Compulsory Army Service – Eligibility is determined based on family income, where at least one parent serves in the IDF, and the other parent belongs to one of the following groups: working parents, studying parents, those eligible for unemployment benefits, national-civic service volunteers, those eligible for income support, and those receiving disability benefits. For more information, see the Kol Zchut entry.

Support for new Olim Parents – Eligibility is not determined based on income level. To qualify, parents must have been in Israel for up to two years at the start of the school year for which assistance is requested.

In addition, both parents must either be enrolled in Ulpan at least 24 hours per week or both are registered in the government as looking for jobs or one is in Ulpan and one is registered as looking for work. 

Support for Toshavim Chozrim – תושבים חוזרים – Returning Resident – Eligibility is not determined based on income level. To qualify, the start of the school year must be during the first year of their return to Israel.

In addition, both parents must either be enrolled in Ulpan at least 24 hours per week or both are registered in the government as looking for jobs or one is in Ulpan and one is registered as looking for work. 

Support for Parents Receiving Unemployment Benefits – Eligibility is determined based on family income, where one parent is unemployed and eligible for unemployment benefits, and the other parent belongs to one of the following groups: working parents, studying parents, soldiers in compulsory service, national-civic service volunteers, those eligible for income support, and those receiving disability benefits. 

Support for Parents Receiving KItzvat Nechut – קצבת נכות – Disability Benefits – Eligibility is determined based on family income, where one parent receives Kitzvat Nechut from a governmental source, and the other parent belongs to one of the following groups: working parents, studying parents, those eligible for unemployment benefits, soldiers in compulsory service, national-civic service volunteers, and those eligible for income support. 

Support for Parents receiving Havtachat Hachnasa – הבטחת הכנסה – Income Support – Eligibility is determined based on family income. 

Application Process

The application submission can be made online (Hebrew only) on the site of the Misrad Ha’Avoda – משרד העבודה – Labor Ministry.

Services and Support

• Locate an approved daycare center using this search page or search map. (both Hebrew only)

• Parents’ Information Hotline at the Misrad HaChinuch – משרד החינוך – Ministry of Education:
  Phone *6552 or 073-3983960 ext. 3, press 1 then press 4, available Sunday-Thursday from 7:30 – 17:00.

• Daycare Hotline at the Misrad Ha’Avoda:
  Phone *2969 or 12222969, available Sunday-Thursday from 8:00 – 16:00 Email: daycare@babcomcenters.com

This guide was created and translated by Shivat Zion based on the Education Ministry webpage and the Daycare Portal on the Kol Zchut website.