The National Insurance Institute of Israel (NII), one of the pillars on which social policy in Israel rests, operates under the National Insurance Law, passed by the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in November 1953. The NII aims to provide weak population groups and families in temporary or long-term difficulties with a financial basis for subsistence. Today the NI Law includes a wide variety of programs, such as old-age and survivors, maternity, children, work injury, general disability, long-term care, unemployment, bankruptcy and liquidation of corporations. In addition to the National Insurance Law, the National Insurance Institute is in charge of enforcing other laws and agreements in the field of social insurance, such as the Income Support Law, designed to protect every family from loss of income and to assist needy populations. The National Insurance Institute (NII) is the leading professional social security organization in Israel. The NII acts under law to implement the welfare policy of the Israeli government, and is a partner in the formulation of this policy as well. The NII serves as an instrument for re-distribution of the national income. The most important social goal the National Insurance Institute has set for itself is to reduce the scope of poverty and the socio-economic gaps in Israel. This goal is achieved by paying benefits to those eligible and providing other services. The National Insurance Institute is a corporation by law, under the supervision of the Minister of Social Affairs and subject to the review of the State Comptroller. The Minister is in charge of implementing the National Insurance Law, is authorized to enact regulations to this Law and is chairman of the NII Council.