National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) — Special Old-Age Pension, Unemployment Allowance, and Disability Benefits for New Immigrants

Source: Israeli Government Guide for New Immigrants · 2026-05

96 One should enclose a copy of the immigration certificate (Te’udat Oleh) and any document that proves eligibility for the pension. A claim for supplementary income is added to the claim’s form (there is a list of required documents on the claim’s form). The claim can be sent through the NII online service of sending documents on the NII website. For your information, in general, new immigrants who have reached the mandatory age of retirement in Israel and emigrated from one of the following countries: the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, the Arab states, Ethiopia, and South America, and are eligible for the special pension may receive the pension automatically without filing a claim. The eligible new immigrants will receive the first payment at Ben Gurion Airport. The following payments will be deposited into the bank account to which the absorption basket payments are transferred. If for some reason, the pension is not paid automatically, one should file a claim for a special old-age pension at the NII branch where one lives. Please note - a new immigrant from one of the countries mentioned above who has reached retirement age and made aliyah after the other spouse has done so, will not receive the pension automatically. This person should turn to the National Insurance Institute in order to arrange the special old-age pension. Please Note! Someone who is receiving a special old-age pension and is planning to leave the country, for whatever reason, should report this to the NII. Failure to report going abroad may result in incurring debts which will have to be settled with the NII. If for some reason the pension was not paid on time, one should turn immediately to the NII branch near where one lives. Unemployment Allowance (Dmei Avtala)
Every unemployed Israeli resident who has worked for a salary (sachir) and whose employer paid the national insurance premiums is eligible for an unemployment allowance from the NII, on condition that the duration of the period of employment was as determined by law.

97 Please Note! It is strongly recommended to make sure that one’s employer is actually paying the National Insurance premiums for you as determined by law. The maximal length of the eligibility period of unemployment allowance varies in accordance with different criteria such as age, family status, the duration of the employment period prior to the unemployment and so forth. The amount of the sum of the unemployment allowance is calculated according to the age of the unemployed person, the income during the 6 last full months prior to the first appearance at the National Employment Service (Sherut HaTa’asuka), but it cannot exceed a set maximal sum. In order to receive an unemployment allowance, one must first turn to the National Employment Service (Sherut HaTa’asuka). The registration and appearance at the National Employment Service are necessary conditions for receiving the unemployment allowance, so it is very important to appear their immediately when employment is terminated. A registered person who declines any offer from the National Employment Service; a job offer, an advanced study, training or re-training - without justification will not be entitled to receive the unemployment allowance for 90 days. A person who remains unemployed even after the eligibility period for unemployment allowance may be eligible for an assured income allowance. A special allowance for new immigrants with severe disabilities (Kizba Meyuhedet Leolim Nechim Kashim) New immigrants from the age of 18 until retirement age may be entitled to a special allowance during their first year of aliyah. The allowance consists of two parts: an allowance for special services for a new immigrant - from the 91st day following aliyah to the end of the first year, and a special disability allowance for a new immigrant - from the 181st day following aliyah until the end of the first year, on condition that the person was previously found to be entitled to the first allowance. For updated and detailed information go to the NII website. At the end of the first year following aliyah, the eligibility for a general disability allowance or for a special services allowance will be examined in the same manner as for every Israeli resident.

98 Military Reserve Duty Compensation (Tagmul Miluim) Citizens called up to do reserve duty are eligible for Reserve Duty Compensation. For additional information turn to the automatic call center of Reserve Duty Compensation, operated by the NII, 24 hours a day. The phone number is: 02-6463010 Please Note! The rules for granting allowances and pensions are expected to change. You should check your eligibility with the NII. In case of discrepancy between the laws and regulations of the NII and this publication, the laws and regulations will prevail, and not this publication. Additional Types of Insurance • Disability insurance. • Work injury insurance. • Mobility allowance. • Survivors’ Insurance. • Nursing insurance. • Insurance of workers in case of Employer’s Bankruptcy. • The Compensation to Prisoners of Zion Law. • The Compensation to Victims of Hostile Acts Law. Please Note! If you are receiving an allowance and your family status has changed, contact a nearby NII branch immediately and notify them of the change. Please Note! The information presented in this booklet is only a brief summary of the National Insurance Institute system in Israel and does not confer any eligibility for assistance. For additional details on this matter, go to the NII website or see the booklet entitled: “National Insurance” published by the Publications Department of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. In order to examine your eligibility, you should contact the nearby NII branch or contact the NII online by creating a personal account on the website: www.btl.gov.il