Direct compensation payments are made from the Article 2 Fund and the Hardship Fund. The Claims Conference negotiates on an ongoing basis with the German government to include additional Nazi victims in compensation programs, increase payments, and provide increased funds for social services.
Uniao Brasileiro-Israelita do Bem-Estar Social (UNIBES) is a non-profit organization that for more than 95 years has provided social welfare services for the needy members of the Jewish Community in Sao Paulo. Since the establishment of its partnership with the Claims Conference in 2004, UNIBES is the primary organization in Brazil providing social services to Nazi victims. Using Claims Conference allocations, the agency has prioritized areas of care for this population, all with the goal of helping Holocaust victims to remain in their homes as long as possible. UNIBES reimburses Nazi victims for the purchase of medications that are not covered by the national health insurance plan; provides a medical program to reimburse the costs of hospital bills, surgery, eye care, and specialty treatments; offers ongoing homecare to assist vulnerable Nazi victims with all aspects of their basic activities of daily living; and provides funding for transportation, dental care and medical equipment. UNIBES also has an emergency assistance program providing short-term help for Holocaust survivors of Austrian origin to ease their immediate financial burdens, including funds for housing and related costs, food, medical care, and medical products.
In addition to providing the above mentioned services, UNIBES has forged an innovative partnership with the prestigious Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo to provide free comprehensive medical care for the most vulnerable Nazi victims living in Brazil.
The Claims Conference also supports Instituicao Beneficente Israelita Ten Yad in Sao Paulo, which delivers weekly packages of dairy foods to Nazi victims, including important proteins that they cannot afford to purchase. These kits are distributed at a central site and to the homes of homebound Nazi victims.