Ministry of Social Equality — Benefits for Senior Citizens

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

102 Benefits for Senior Citizens A Senior Citizen card (Te’udat Eezrach Vatik) In accordance with the “Senior Citizens Law” 1989 - 5750, the Ministry of Social Equality (in conjunction with the National Insurance Institute) grants a Senior Citizen’s card (Te’udat Ezrach Vatik) to residents who have reached retirement age. The card confers eligibility for discounts in the following areas: • A discount on public transportation. • A discount on the Arnona tax, for 100 sq. meters of the apartment’s space (according to specific conditions of eligibility). • Theater performances. • A discount on entrance to museums, exhibitions, movie tickets and cultural and artistic performances. • A discount on entrance to national parks and nature reserves. • Discounts on medications (only for those who are eligible). The Senior Citizen’s Card is valid as long as it features a photograph of its owner, or when it is presented with identification which includes the owner’s photograph and date of birth, for proof of age. The Senior Citizen’s Card is sent to every citizen near the age of retirement (as of the time of this publication the age is 67 for men, 60-65 for women, depending on date of birth) in accordance with the information registered in the Population Registry. If you have not received the card via mail, if the card was lost, if you would like to have your name in English on the card or if you wish to change the card, you can issue a card in one of the following ways: • Fill in an online form on the website of the Ministry of Social Equality: https://form.mse.gov.il/seniorcard/ The card will be sent via mail. • Use the application for issuing a digital Senior Citizen card independently. One can also request a printed card and it will be sent via mail (the application should be downloaded from one of the application stores).

103 Please Note! A Senior Citizen’s Card in English may enable discounts abroad in accordance with the rules that apply there. For any inquiry on the subject of a Senior Citizen’s Card, establish contact in one of the following ways: • Call Center: *8840 • Fax: 02-6547034 • E-mail: infovatikim@mse.gov.il Additional information on the Ministry of Social Equality website: https://www.gov.il/he/service/senior_citizen_idcard Additional discounts for those receiving a supplementary income (hashlamat hachnasa) Seniors who are receiving a supplementary income (hashlamat hachnasa) from the National Insurance Institute may also be eligible, according to specific criteria, to the following benefits: In the area of health: • Discounts on health insurance fees. • Discounts on some medications included in the Basket of Health Services. • Exemption on fees for visits to certain types of medical specialists, outpatient clinics, and institutes. • Assistance for purchasing rehabilitative devices and mobility devices. Please Note! It is recommended to check the insurance coverage of the Health Fund. Information about special rights in the area of health: on the website “Kol HaBriut”: www.call. gov.il. Numbers of call center: *5400. The Ministry of Health website: www.health.gov.il. For additional information about health services, see the booklet “Health Services” by the Publications Department. For your convenience there is an order form at the end of this booklet.

104 In the area of housing: • Rental assistance. • Participation in payments of a supplementary loan (Mashkanta) for older people in need. For further details and conditions of eligibility go to the Ministry of Construction and Housing website: www.moch.gov.il Telephone Number: *2310 Please Note! The information contained here is a general guide only, and does not confer eligibility for assistance. Details and regulations are subject to change, therefore before undertaking any action, be sure to ascertain the rights to which you are entitled. The data are provided by various official sources, but errors, alterations, or discrepancies between the information presented and the laws and regulations of official bodies are possible. In these cases the laws and regulations of the official bodies will prevail and not what is published in this booklet. For detailed conditions of eligibility and further information turn to the Ministry of Social Equality’s Call Center: *8840. At the call center you can receive information about your various rights as senior citizens.