Yad L'Olim
    The Yad L'Olim Companion

    Absorption Basket (Sal Klita)

    Beginner

    Most Olim are entitled to an absorption basket (sal klita) — a financial support package that includes living allowances for 6 months and help with rent.

    Time Estimate

    ~4 min read

    Priority

    High

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    1. 1

      In brief

      The absorption basket is financial support designed to help you through your first period of settling in Israel.

      • The amounts you receive depend on your personal and family situation — see the absorption basket payment tables on the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Misrad HaKlita) website.
    2. 2

      Who is eligible?

      You're eligible if you meet one of the following conditions:

      1. You entered Israel for the first time on an Oleh visa.
      2. You were in Israel for no more than 24 consecutive or cumulative months in the 3 years before receiving Oleh status, or eligibility as an Oleh.

      These conditions also apply to an Oleh citizen and a returning minor, according to the definitions on the Misrad HaKlita website.

    3. 3

      How to claim your entitlement

      Your first sal klita payment is given at the airport as a one-time debit card with the amount loaded on it.

      The rest of the grant is paid in 6 monthly instalments into your Israeli bank account. To receive these:

      • Open an Oleh account (or a joint account if you and your spouse are both Olim) at a bank. If you're opening a joint account, both of you need to be present at the bank.
      • Give your bank account details to Misrad HaKlita. Do this in one of your first days in the country.
      • Avoid changing your account number in your first years after Aliyah. If you do need to change your account details, notify Misrad HaKlita immediately.

      If you have any issue receiving your sal klita funds, contact your local Misrad HaKlita branch right away.

      Rent assistance is included as part of the sal klita.

    4. 4

      Eligibility period for the absorption basket

      You can receive sal klita payments within 1 year of the date you received Oleh status.

      If you travel abroad, your sal klita payments stop while you're outside Israel.

      • Payments will only resume if you return to Israel within your first year of Aliyah. No retroactive payment is made for the months you spent outside Israel.
      • To restart payments, go to your local Misrad HaKlita branch or contact your Absorption Advisor via your personal account at gov.il or by email, and request renewal.
    5. 5

      Financial assistance after the absorption basket ends

      Misrad HaKlita provides subsistence support (hav'tachat kayum) to eligible Olim in the second half of their first year of Aliyah, after the sal klita period ends. The types of support available include:

      • Assured Income and a Living Allowance — gov.il (English)

      • Income support — Bituach Leumi (English)

      • Subsistence payment for Olim who are sick or hospitalised

      • Subsistence payment for an Oleh caring for a sick family member

      • Subsistence payment for an Oleh who is pregnant

      • Subsistence payment for Olim under age 65

      • Subsistence payment for single-parent Olim families)

      • Subsistence payment for Olim with a disability, invalidity, or blindness

    6. 6

      Good to know

      • During labour disputes, strikes, Israeli holidays, or emergency situations, the cash portion of the initial airport payment will be increased.
      • During holiday periods, sal klita payments are brought forward — your bank account will be credited about 1 week before the holiday begins.
    7. 7

      Helpful organisations

      Government helplines

      • Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Misrad HaKlita): phone *2994 | website
      • Rent assistance helpline for Olim: phone *2310 | email mil-pniot@moch.gov.il | website
      • Sha'il (advisory service): phone 118 | website
      • Central Government Response Centre: phone 1299 | online enquiry | website

      Support organisations

      • List of organisations that help Olim

      Government bodies

      • The Jewish Agency — information and initial advice on Aliyah and absorption
    8. 8

      Related guides

      Other guides in the First-months essentials (Sal Klita ecosystem) series:

      • Opening a Bank Account
      • Rental Assistance for Olim
      • Hebrew Language Studies at an Ulpan for New Olim

    Useful Hebrew Phrases

    • sal klita — absorption basket (the initial financial assistance package for new Olim)סל קליטה
    • zaka'ut — eligibility / entitlementזכאות
    • ma'amad oleh — Oleh statusמעמד עולה
    • cheshbon bank — bank accountחשבון בנק
    • pratei cheshbon — account detailsפרטי חשבון
    • yo'etz klita — absorption counsellor (Misrad HaKlita advisor)יועץ קליטה

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