Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment: Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for additional answers
to questions about the third payment.

1) Who is eligible for this payment?

Anyone who is alive and has been approved for a Hardship Fund Payment OR received a one-time payment from the BEG and does not receive a pension as compensation for persecution during the Holocaust. 

2) If I receive a pension from the Claims Conference (Article 2), the Israeli Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors, or BEG, am I eligible?

You are not eligible for the Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment if you receive a pension as compensation for Nazi persecution. You are eligible if you received a one-time payment from the BEG, even if this payment was over 5,000 DM. 

3) Do I have to file a claims form to receive this payment?

Yes, you must submit an application form to be eligible for this payment. The Claims Conference mailed personalized pre-populated application forms to potentially eligible survivors. If you think you are eligible and did NOT receive an application form in the mail, please contact us at the Claims Conference office nearest you. https://www.claimscon.org/about/contact-us/

4) How can I send in my application form?

Applications can be sent by mail, fax, and email. We strongly encourage using email to submit your application form.

Please send your applications to one of the following fax numbers and emails:

Via Email:

Via Fax:

  • +1-646-536-9159 (New York)
  • +972-03-679-6281 (Tel Aviv)
  • +49-69-72-1104 (Frankfurt)

5) How much money will I receive?

The fund will pay eligible claimants three supplemental payments, each in the amount of €1,200 for a total of €3,600. There will be three installments, the first at the end of 2020 or in early 2021, the second will be paid in 2022, and the third starting April 2023.

To be eligible for the first two installments, an application form must have been submitted prior to December 31, 2022. Those who did not previously apply, must submit an application prior to December 31, 2023 to be eligible for the one-time payment of €1,200 made in 2023.

6) What if I moved since I last was in contact with the Claims Conference?

Please submit a written and signed address change request to the Claims Conference office nearest to you. https://www.claimscon.org/about/contact-us/

7) If I am an authorized representative, can I submit an address change for a claimant?

Yes, you need to mail us a copy of the following:

  • A photocopy of a document granting legal guardianship/power of attorney
  • A photocopy of the authorized representative’s government-issued ID
  • A copy of the claimant’s government-issued ID.

 8) Does my application need to be certified?

Your application will explicitly state the certification requirements. If you have any questions about your specific application after receiving it please contact us:

Via Phone:

  • 1-646-536-9100 (United States)
  • +972-(3)-519-4400 (Tel Aviv from outside Israel)
  • 03-519-4400 (Tel Aviv from within Israel)
  • +49 69 970 7010 (Frankfurt)

Via Email:

9) If I am a child or spouse of a Hardship Fund recipient or survivor, can I receive this supplemental payment?

No, the Supplemental Payment can only be paid to eligible survivors.

10) Are there any heir payments?

Yes, if the survivor applied and is found eligible but passes away before the payment could be made, the surviving spouse may be entitled.  If there is no surviving spouse, children may be eligible. No other heirs are eligible. Surviving spouses and children should contact the Claims Conference. 

11) Is there a deadline for applying?

Yes. The application deadline to receive the first two installments  was December 31, 2022.

Those who missed the December 31, 2022 deadline may still apply in 2023 in order to receive the third installment of the payment (€1,200). New applications for the third installment must be received by December 31, 2023.

12) Can the Supplemental Payment be sent to me by a check?

No, we are not able to send checks, you must have a bank account opened in your name.

13) Do you need my bank information?

Yes, payment will be wired to your bank account. Please fill out the bank details in the personalized application. For survivors residing in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, the application form will specify the payment methods available.

14) Do I need to provide proof of life to get the Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment?

Starting in mid-February of 2023, we will notify eligible survivors who are required to provide proof of life in order to receive the next installment of Hardship Fund Supplemental payments.

15) Do I need a lawyer?

You do not need a lawyer to apply for the Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment.

16) Is there a fee to obtain an application?

There is no fee to apply for the Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment.

17) I think I’m eligible, but I never applied to the Claims Conference before?

Please fill out the Universal Application Form found on our website, https://www.claimscon.org/what-we-do/compensation/apply-for-compensation/, and we will notify you if you are eligible for the Hardship Fund and the Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Third Payment

1) Who will receive this payment?

Anyone who received the first two installments of the Hardship Fund Supplemental payment and has not started receiving a pension from the Article 2, CEE, or RSP Fund.

However, recipients of the first two installments must complete the proof of life requirement prior to receiving the third payment. We will be contacting eligible survivors to explain how to fulfill this requirement.

2) Do I have to provide proof of life to receive this payment?

Yes, proof of life will need to be provided. We will be contacting eligible survivors to explain how to fulfill this requirement.

3) How much will the third installment be?

The third installment of the Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment will be €1,200.

4) I have recently moved, after the receipt of the first installments. Do I need to do anything?

Please submit a written and signed address change request to the Claims Conference office nearest to you.

5) What if I closed the bank account that was used for the first installments?

We will attempt to wire the funds to the bank account that we have on file. If you did not inform us of the change in your bank details, please let us know immediately. We require a written and signed notification on the bank details change.

6) If I am a child or spouse of a Survivor who received the first installments, can I receive the third installment of this payment?

No, in this scenario, heirs are not eligible to receive the third installment.

7) I received the first Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment but I have since applied to the new Regional Specific Persecution (RSP) Fund. What happens now?

If you are approved for the RSP payment, you will only be eligible for the first Hardship Fund Supplemental payment. If the second or third installment were made prior to approval for the RSP pension, we will deduct the Hardship Fund Supplemental payment from RSP pension payments.

8) I applied for the Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment but have yet to receive any payment.

Please be assured that we are working diligently towards fully processing all pending cases. Once approved, you will receive all installments you are eligible for.

You can check if your application is being processed at https://applicationtracker.claimscon.org

9) I have yet to apply, can I still apply to receive this payment?

If you think that you are eligible, please contact us as soon as possible at the Claims Conference office nearest to you. Please note that there is a deadline for first time applicants who wish to receive the 2023 installment of the Hardship Fund Supplemental payment of December 31, 2023.

Via phone:

  • 1-646-536-9100 (United States)
  • +972-(3)-519-4400 (Tel Aviv from outside Israel)
  • 03-519-4400 (Tel Aviv from within Israel)
  • +49 69 970 7010 (Frankfurt)

Or by email at:

10) Is there a deadline for applying?

To be eligible for the first two installments, applications had to be postdated December 31, 2022.

First time applicants have until December 31, 2023 to apply for the third installment.

11) Can this Supplemental Payment installment be sent to me by a check?

Unfortunately, the Claims Conference is not able to send checks. We will wire transfer the funds to the same bank account we used for the first installments of the Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment.

12) When may I expect my money?

We will start making the third installment to those who have met the proof of life requirement starting April 2023.

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