News - National Insurance Benefits to be Raised by 4.5% as of January 2009

The Director General of the National Insurance Institute, Mrs. Esther Dominissini, announced today that beginning in January 2009, all benefit amounts will be raised by 4.5%. Every year benefits are adjusted at the rate of the annual rise in the Consumer Price Index.

Mrs. Dominssini stated that the raise in the benefits is particularly crucial for low-income citizens, whose sole or main source of income is the benefit that they receive from the National Insurance Institute.

Following are examples of adjusted benefit amounts, as calculated by the Research and Planning Administration of the NII:

Old-age and survivors

Single person up to age 80         NIS 1,268 as opposed to NIS 1,213 previously
Couple up to age 80                   NIS 1,906 as opposed to NIS 1,823 previously
Single person over age 80           NIS 1,345 as opposed to NIS 1,287 previously
Couple over age 80                     NIS 1,983 as opposed to NIS 1,877 previously

Old-age and survivors with income supplement

Single person up to age 80         NIS 2,638 as opposed to NIS 2,265 previously
Couple up to age 80                   NIS 3,511 as opposed to NIS 3,359 previously
Single person over age 80           NIS 2,532 as opposed to NIS 2,422 previously
Couple over age 80                     NIS 3,748 as opposed to NIS 3,588 previously

General disability

Single person               NIS 2,081 as opposed to NIS 1,991 previously
Couple                         NIS 3,121 as opposed to NIS 2,986 previously

Child allowance

For one child            NIS 159            instead of          NIS 152
For 2 children           NIS 318            instead of          NIS 304
For 3 children           NIS 509            instead of          NIS 486
For 4 children           NIS 862            instead of          NIS 823

Income support

Single person          NIS 1,537          instead of          NIS 1,470
Couple                    NIS 2,113          instead of          NIS 2,022