Special Old-Age Benefit for Olim and Returning Residents

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1

   Who is eligible?

   An Israeli resident who is ineligible for an old-age pension may be entitled to a special old-age benefit, funded by the Ministry of Finance, if they meet one of the following criteria:

   • An Israeli resident who first immigrated to Israel after the age set by law (62 for men and retirement age for women) and is not covered with old-age insurance.
   • A Returning Resident who did not accrue the required qualifying period.
2. 2

   Conditions of entitlement

   You may be entitled to a special old-age benefit if you meet all of the following conditions:

   1. Reaching retirement age.

   Note: a married woman may be entitled to a special old-age benefit as of the age of entitlement to old-age pension (70 for both men and women, not subject to a means test), provided that her spouse is not receiving a pension under the law.

   2. Not receiving an allowance from the National Insurance.

   • A woman may be eligible if she and her spouse are not receiving an allowance from the National Insurance.
   • A man may be eligible if he and his spouse are not receiving an allowance from the National Insurance, or if his spouse is receiving an old-age pension or a work disability pension and has reached the age of entitlement to an old-age pension.

   3. Passing the income test.

   Important: unlike the regular old-age pension, the special old-age benefit is subject to an income test even after the age of entitlement to an old-age pension.

   • Income from work (under age 70): work income must not exceed the allowed amount based on family composition — NIS 10,113 for a single person and NIS 13,484 for a couple (as of 1 January 2026).
   • Income from work (age 70+): work income must not exceed triple those amounts.
   • Non-work income: a person may be eligible if their and their spouse's non-work income does not exceed the amount of the old-age pension + income supplement increment they would be entitled to according to family composition and age.

   Note: those whose income only slightly exceeds the allowed amount may still be entitled to a special old-age benefit at a reduced rate.

3. 3

   Benefit amount

   The amounts of the special benefit are equivalent to the basic old-age pension rates — for an individual, and for a person receiving an income supplement for a spouse or children — without seniority increment or pension deferral increment.

   Eligibility for an income supplement will be examined separately according to its own conditions of entitlement.

4. 4

   Submitting a benefit claim

   Submit a special old-age benefit claim form and attach:

   • Your Teudat Oleh (Oleh's card).
   • Any other document proving your entitlement — the list of required documents appears on the claim form.

   The claim for income supplement is enclosed as an appendix to the claim form.

   The claim can be submitted:

   • Through Bituach Leumi's documents sending service on the website.
   • Sent to your local branch by regular mail, fax, or dropped into the service box at the branch.
5. 5

   Date of payment

   The special benefit is paid on the 28th of the month, starting from the 1st of the month in which the claim was submitted.

   In the transition from a disability pension to a special old-age benefit, the benefit is paid from the date on which the disability pension payment is discontinued.

6. 6

   Staying abroad

   A person who receives a special old-age benefit and leaves Israel for any reason must inform the National Insurance Institute about their departure.

   A non-reported departure abroad may cause the accumulation of debts toward the National Insurance Institute.

7. 7

   Helping organisations

   National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi):

   • National call centre: *6050 or 04-8812345
   • Call centre for seniors: *9696
   • Find your local Bituach Leumi branch

   Sha'il (Citizens' Advice and Information Service): 118 — website