- You don’t need to pay for the first 12 months, but after that you will need to pay a minimum fee per month (if you are not working officially).
- If you have a disability, you may not apply for a disability stipend until you have been in the country 12 months. However, if you need assistance with your Activities of Daily Living, you may apply for sherutim meyuchadim, or an additional special payment, after you have been in the country for 90 days.
- Being evaluated by the Ministry of Labor and Welfare for eligibility to enter into to a government sponsored day or living program, is NOT dependent on whether or not you are receiving bituach leumi pension disability. That means that a new immigrant is fully entitled to apply and enter a public program for those who are mentally or physically disabled, even if they are newly arrived citizens and not yet eligible to receive bituach leumi disability benefits.
- New immigrants who meet the eligibility requirements to apply to Sal shikum for mental health (or rehabilitive services package for those with a mental health diagnosis) do NOT need to be receiving a bituach leumi disability stipend yet. You may get direct permission from your area psychiatrist of the Ministry of Health who can sponsor your application to this committee.
- If you have an ongoing physical or mental disability, once you have lived in Israel for more than 12 months, you will be able to apply for disability benefits through Bituach Leumi. Remember that they are several categories that you can apply to: 1) Monthly disability stipend 2) Special activities benefit 3) Mobility [works in conjunction with Ministry of Health] 4) Sal shikum [ retraining benefits if you had to leave one type of career because of your disability] 5) Discounts on other services: your property tax [arnona], water, electricity[if you have high% of sherutim meyuchadim, transportation and kupat cholim fees.
