Special Services Allowance and Disability Benefit for Olim

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1

   In brief

   Olim who need substantial help from another person in daily activities due to a severe disability may receive the following benefits:

   1. Special Services Allowance for Olim — from day 91 of your Aliyah until the end of the first year.
   2. Special Disability Benefit for Olim — from day 181 of your Aliyah until the end of the first year — for those who are already receiving the Special Services Allowance for Olim.

   • Eligibility is determined by your level of dependence on another person's help, without examining your medical disability percentage.

   • As you approach the second year in Israel, your eligibility for a General Disability Benefit and a Special Services Allowance will be assessed under the regular rules.

   • Olim who do not depend on another person for daily activities, but whose work capacity has been impaired by a disability (before or after Aliyah), can submit a claim for a General Disability Benefit after 9 months from their Aliyah date.

   • If the claim is approved, entitlement to the General Disability Benefit begins at the end of the first year of Aliyah.

2. 2

   Who is eligible?

   You are eligible if you hold an Oleh certificate (teudat Oleh) or an Oleh visa (ashrut Oleh), and all of the following conditions apply:

   1. You are in your first year of Aliyah.
   2. Due to a severe disability, you need substantial help from another person with daily activities (dressing, eating, bathing, mobility within the home, and continence control) and with household-related tasks — or you require constant supervision to prevent danger to your life or the lives of others.
   3. You are between the age of 18 and retirement age (67 for men; 62–65 for women depending on their date of birth).

   • The Special Services Allowance will not be paid during any period in which you are receiving another monthly benefit or payment for your livelihood — not including child allowance (kitzbat yeladim) or the absorption basket (sal klita).

   • You can receive the Special Disability Benefit for Olim alongside benefits provided under the mobility allowance (gmilat nayidut).

   • Olim who arrived in Israel after retirement age and meet the eligibility conditions for a nursing care benefit (gmilat siyud) will be entitled to that benefit from day 8 of their Aliyah.

3. 3

   Special Services Allowance for Olim rates as of 2026

   • 50% rate — ₪1,943: You need substantial help with most daily activities for most hours of the day.

   • 112% rate — ₪4,501: You meet one of the following:

   1. You need substantial help with all daily activities for most hours of the day.
   2. You require constant supervision.

   • 188% rate — ₪7,181: You meet one of the following:

   1. You are completely dependent on another person for all daily activities at all hours of the day.
   2. You need substantial help with all daily activities for most hours of the day and also require constant supervision.

   • 235% rate — ₪9,126: You meet one of the following:

   1. You are completely dependent on another person to an especially high degree for all daily activities at all hours of the day.
   2. You need especially substantial help with all daily activities at all hours of the day and also require constant supervision.

   • However, if you qualify for the 235% rate but receive the ventilator supplement (tosfet le'munashamim), you will be paid at the 188% rate instead.
4. 4

   Special Disability Benefit for Olim rates as of 2026

   • Recipients of the Special Services Allowance for Olim are entitled (from day 181 to the end of the first year of Aliyah) to a full disability benefit of ₪4,711 per month.

   • If you have dependants, you may be entitled to additions to the benefit:

     • If your spouse earns no more than ₪7,848 gross per month and does not receive another benefit, you are entitled to an addition of ₪1,406 for your spouse.
     • If you have children (see the definition of a child under the National Insurance Law), you are entitled to an addition for up to two children, at ₪1,215 per child.
5. 5

   Submitting a claim

   • Before submitting your claim for a Special Services Allowance, prepare medical documents detailing your illnesses, medications, and treatments.
   • At "Yad Mechavenet" centres operated by the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi), you can receive free guidance and advice before submitting the claim or before attending the medical committee.
   • Fill in the claim form for the Special Services Allowance and attach medical documents (with a waiver of medical confidentiality) and any other document that proves the need for help and supervision.

   You can submit the form and claim documents in one of the following ways:

   1. Send the claim form online together with your medical documents and a waiver of medical confidentiality. Because a physical signature is not possible in an online submission, your identity will be verified by entering the date of issue of your identity document.
   2. Fill in the claim form online and print it, or print and fill in the claim form manually, then submit the form and documents by one of the following means:
      • Sending via the Bituach Leumi website.
      • Submitting to the Bituach Leumi branch nearest to your place of residence — by post, fax, or the branch's service box.
   3. Calling the Bituach Leumi telephone centre at *3928. The centre's representatives will complete the claim on your behalf and update you on next steps.
6. 6

   Determining eligibility

   • After you submit your claim, you will receive a summons to a medical committee for special services (va'ada refuit le'sherutim meyuchadim).
     • The medical committee will assess your level of dependence on another person's help.
     • In certain cases, eligibility can be determined on the basis of the medical documents you submitted, without your needing to attend the committee.
   • The decision on your eligibility will be sent to your home address.
   • If your claim is approved, your entitlement to the Special Services Allowance begins on day 91 of your Aliyah, and your entitlement to the Disability Benefit begins on day 181 of your Aliyah — both until the end of the first year.
7. 7

   Appeal

   • You can appeal the eligibility decision within 30 days of receiving it.
   • If needed, you will be invited to an examination as part of the appeals process.
8. 8

   Special Services Allowance and nursing care benefit

   • Recipients of a Special Services Allowance who reach retirement age may meet the eligibility conditions for a nursing care benefit (gmilat siyud).
   • You cannot receive both the Special Services Allowance and the nursing care benefit — you must choose one.
   • Note that the value of the nursing care benefit at some eligibility levels may be significantly lower than the amount of the Special Services Allowance.
9. 9

   Disability Benefit for Olim and income support

   • Olim with a disability or impairment who cannot work due to their condition may receive monthly income support (dmei kiyum) in the second half of the first year of Aliyah. For more information, see the income support payment for Olim with a disability, impairment, or blindness.
   • If you receive the Disability Benefit for Olim and income support in the same period, the income support amount will be deducted from the disability benefit paid to you.
10. 10

    General Disability Benefit

    • Olim whose work capacity has been impaired by a disability (before or after Aliyah) may be eligible for a General Disability Benefit after at least 12 months have passed since their Aliyah.
    • Eligibility is determined according to the general conditions — you do not need to be dependent on another person for daily activities.
    • You can submit the claim for the benefit after 9 months have passed since your Aliyah.
11. 11

    Supporting organisations

    Government helplines:

    • Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Misrad HaKlita): *2994
    • Rental assistance centre for Olim: *2310
    • Sha"l (Citizens' Advice Service): 118
    • Central Government Response Centre: 1299