Appeal to the State Comptroller: Blind and Hard of Hearing Man Claims Delay in Subsidizing Braille Display

Avichai Sheli, who is blind and hard of hearing, has appealed to the State Comptroller, alleging delays by the Ministry of Welfare in subsidizing a Braille display. He claims that delays in purchase approval and reimbursement caused him a loss of income exceeding 30,000 shekels.

Avichai Sheli, a blind and hard of hearing individual, has appealed to the State Comptroller, alleging that delays by the Ministry of Welfare have harmed his livelihood. According to him, the Braille display essential for his work broke down about two and a half years after its purchase, and he waited over three months for an exceptional approval to subsidize its replacement. Sheli claims that following a fraud discovered at the end of 2024, subsidy conditions were tightened and the period between subsidized purchases was extended from four to seven years. He paid 14,300 shekels for a new display in February 2026, but the reimbursement of 11,440 shekels was only received in July, over five months later. The Ministry of Welfare stated that it handled the matter with sensitivity and professionalism, and that the delay was due to incomplete document submission. Sheli asks the Comptroller to set mandatory processing times and restore the arrangement where the state pays the supplier directly.