Who is entitled to old age benefits in Israel in 2021

If you have retired and are planning to migrate to the homeland of your ancestors in Israel, then it will be useful for you to learn all the intricacies of pension legislation in this amazing, prosperous country in order to avoid unnecessary worries or disappointments already on the spot. Although a pension in Israel seems like a tempting prospect, the process of calculating it has its own nuances, without knowing which you can get into an unpleasant situation as a repatriate.

Retirement age

An Israeli can legally retire after turning 67 years old. For the female part of the population, starting from 2021, the retirement age is planned to be increased - from 62 to 64, depending on the date of birth. In some institutions and organizations, pensions are calculated from the age of 67, regardless of gender.

In 2021, the Israeli Ministry of Finance approved a bill to raise the retirement age for women to 65 years. The increase will take place according to the following scheme.

Plan to raise the retirement age for women in Israel

In Russia, women retire at the age of 55 and men at 60, but as a result of the pension reform, these figures were increased to 60 and 65 years. Sometimes the retirement age is different, and this directly depends on the working conditions in which the person had to work.

Russia plans to increase the retirement age to 65 for both sexes. But even so, Russian pensioners will have to work for several more years after arriving in Israel.

This age limit for pensioners in Israel in 2021 was established due to the average life expectancy, which in the Promised Land is 82 years, which is significantly higher than in Russia (70 years), as well as in the United States of America (78 years) and Great Britain (81 years old).

By the way, according to this indicator, only Japan is ahead of all countries, where people live on average to almost 84 years. Nevertheless, pensioners in the state have time to both work, benefiting society, and relax with pleasure from the labors of their righteous people.

How do pensioners live in Israel?

Compared to the figures for Russian pensions, Israeli social payments look quite impressive. However, we should not forget that the standard of living in the Promised Land is much higher than in Russia, and, therefore, prices for goods, food, fuel and services are much more expensive.

Many pensioners in Israel have an income equal to the subsistence level. It is possible to live with dignity in such conditions only if you have your own apartment, since rental housing eats up a significant part of social payments.

There is no need to complain to those who have managed to earn an impressive work history and acquire real estate. Such pensioners can afford to travel around the world, have a comfortable life, and vacation at resorts.

Retired military personnel are doing well. The government provides payments to such pensioners up to $1,700 per month, which corresponds to the full salary of a semi-skilled specialist.

Members of the Jewish kibbutz also live with dignity after finishing their working career. The community fully bears the cost of maintaining its elderly. They are provided with free of charge:

• Housing;
• Nutrition;
• Social care;
• Medical service.

In addition to lifelong benefits, they receive pocket money from the community and, if they wish, can lead an active life, performing light socially useful work.

Those who have to rely only on old age benefits and social supplements can be found in free food kitchens, since they are not able to provide themselves with quality products. Often, older people are forced to earn extra money after retirement. They are hired to perform unskilled and low-paid types of work that do not require special experience and specific knowledge.

However, all pensioners, regardless of income level, have the right to free medical care in clinics with the most modern equipment and highly qualified specialists. This circumstance has a significant impact on the overall life expectancy in the country, the level of which is considered one of the highest in Europe.

Types of pension payments in Israel

A pension in Israel consists of 2 parts. The 1st part is paid by the department or institute of national insurance (Bituach Leumi). You can find detailed information here: btl.gov.il/RussianHomePage/Pages/Home.aspx.

The second part of payments is savings from the Pension Fund, which were collected from a person if he worked officially.

Benefits from Bituach Leumi

The employer must make regular contributions to Bituach Leumi.

Bituach Leumi building

The National Insurance Institute is responsible for providing social protection to citizens. His main list of responsibilities includes:

1. Control over the provision of a living wage for persons who cannot provide for themselves due to disability or incapacity for another reasoned reason.
2. Monitoring payment of contributions from the working population.
3. Payments for all social benefits and pensions.

It is important to note that part of the pension that accumulates can, if necessary, be transferred anywhere in the world, but old-age benefits can only be received if you are permanently residing in Israel.

Payments from the pension fund

There is a law that says the following: if a person works (no matter for whom or where), then the employer undertakes to provide him with a pension fund. This means that a small percentage (approximately 5%) will be deducted from the employee’s salary. It doesn’t matter whether a person changed jobs or not. If he has worked all his life, then he has every right to receive payments from the pension fund.

The size of the pension depends on the salary level and the total length of service in Israel. Those repatriates who came to Israel in the 90s or early 2000s and worked in small companies did not always have contributions to the Russian pension fund. Now they can also count on additional payments. The total amount must be equal to the cost of living.

Savings form the basis of a pension. The average pension of such citizens ranges from 500–800 euros.

If a person is a new immigrant, and he did not work in Israel, but carefully paid all the necessary contributions, then, upon reaching retirement age, he is entitled to receive benefits.

According to the pensioners themselves, in order to earn a decent pension for themselves, it is necessary to come to Israel as early as possible - before the age of 40.

What pension should new repatriates expect?

Israel welcomes new citizens who have Jewish blood and want to return to their historical roots. The country has a repatriation law for them. True, it does not provide for any separate programs regulating pension payments to repatriates. All new residents of the Jewish state are subject to the general rules of social security for retired citizens.

If an emigrant arrived in Israel at pre-retirement age, he has the opportunity to earn the length of service necessary to form the funded part. In this case, he can count on a pension of 600-800 dollars.

Those repatriates who decide to move after retirement have the right to:

• Social old age pension;
• Supplements to pensions, equating it to the subsistence level;
• Privileges;
• Statutory surcharges;
• Disability pension.

It should be remembered that social benefits for old-age repatriates are paid only if the emigrant permanently resides in his new homeland. When he leaves abroad, payment will be made no longer than 72 days. And it is about 500 dollars.

As additional payments, repatriates can count on receiving the following types of benefits:

• For heating in winter 562 shekels per year;
• For rent of residential premises 500 shekels every month;
• Holocaust victims in the amount of 3,600 shekels monthly.

Amount of minimum and average pension

In 2021, the average pension is NIS 5,300. For a single person, the basic monthly benefit is NIS 1,554, and for a married couple – NIS 2,355.

If a person is over 80 years old, then the benefit amount is 1640 shekels, and for a married couple - 2400 shekels. More detailed information can be obtained here: btl.gov.il/RussianHomePage/Benefits_ru/Vatikim_ru/Pages/shiureyHaKizva_ru.aspx.

Pension amounts upon retirement at age 67 (in shekels)

By profession

Retired judges receive the largest pension – 92,000 shekels/month. This includes all bonuses and various allowances. The monthly allowance for judges of religious courts is 40,000 shekels.

Pension for former security forces (except IDF) - about 19,000 shekels/month. Retired officials of the State Comptroller's Department receive a monthly allowance of NIS 14,900.

To understand what pension will be paid after repatriation, you need to take into account several factors.

Benefits and allowances

The benefit is a percentage of the average wage in the country, the minimum rate is 16%. Once the required age is reached, a 2% annual premium is added. If the family has minor children and an unemployed spouse without a pension, then the premium is 50%. However, the bonuses in any case do not affect the fact that the maximum old-age benefit still cannot be higher than 24% of the average Israeli salary.

This part of the pension benefit is received by male representatives who have turned 70 years old, and by the female part of the population - depending on the year of birth.

Old-age benefits can be received by Israeli citizens with government insurance. According to the law, insured persons include residents of this state born on its territory, or repatriates whose age is up to 60-62 years and who have worked in Israel for at least 5 years. Old age benefits are paid monthly.

If a Russian citizen moved to Israel without renouncing citizenship before reaching retirement age, he will be entitled to social benefits until he reaches the appropriate age and is transferred to pension subsidies.

The person applying for benefits must be located in Israel. Detailed information on the amount of the supplement is available on the website of the National Insurance Institute.

In some cases, the premium for providing a permanent residence may be paid even when it is located outside the borders of Israel.

A person receiving benefits from Bituach Leumi can travel abroad for a period of no more than 72 days, otherwise he loses the right to social benefits. If this is not a social benefit, then he can stay abroad for up to six months.

The National Insurance Institute automatically receives a message that the person has left, so there is no way to receive benefits from Bituach Leumi while living abroad. Another thing is the pension that a person has earned.

Also find out what other benefits you can get in Israel.

Additional increase to pension payments

Sometimes it happens that a pensioner has not had time to accumulate work experience, cannot go to work for health reasons or simply does not want to, and his pension payments are less than the subsistence level. Then such a citizen may qualify for additional payments.

Here is an exact list of requirements for citizens who may qualify for payments:

• income not exceeding 3,200 shekels for a single person or 5,100 shekels for a married couple;
• do not receive other social benefits;
• there is no car more expensive than 40,000 shekels;
• do not live in a kibbutz;
• have Israeli citizenship or permanently reside in Israel.

If a citizen meets all the requirements, he will receive payments for life. However, if he is absent from the country for more than 72 days, the flow of funds will stop.

What else can you add to your pension?

But the size of the pension is not the only thing a repatriate needs to think about. A unique reward for long-term work is a one-time payment. It is received upon retirement, and it is very easy to calculate its amount. It is enough to multiply the average salary by the length of service (at least 10 years).

In addition, an Israeli pensioner can add additional payments to his pension if he served in the Israeli army. In this state, both men and women can serve in the army. Accordingly, such additional payment is received regardless of gender.

The size of the army pension depends on the age at which the person was demobilized, the period and place of service. The state pays the most to pensioners who served in IDF combat units and were participants in combat operations.

In addition, there is a payment to those who suffered and became disabled during terrorist attacks in Israel, as well as in Jewish settlements in Palestine.

Additional concern for the elderly in Israel is expressed in the fact that they pay less than others for the use of land, television channels and some other mandatory payments.

Main benefits for pensioners:

• Council tax discount. Everyone who lives in a rented or their own apartment pays this tax. Its size depends on the city: in some places it is smaller, in others it is larger. But the tax also depends on the total area of ​​the apartment: the larger the size of the living space, the more tax you have to pay. The discount amount is 25%. Even if only one person in a married couple is a pensioner, this discount applies. If both spouses are pensioners, then you can get a 35% discount per 100 sq. m. m. If a person is a social pensioner, then he does not pay municipal tax at all.
• Discount on electricity bills. This is the most expensive utility payment in Israel. From this amount, the country's authorities withdraw 40% from the social pensioner. But not indefinitely: if the electricity bill is very high, then the discount no longer applies.
• Benefit for medicines. The discount on medicines for ordinary pensioners is small. Social pensioners are given a 50% discount.
• Discounts on travel on public transport. All pensioners, regardless of their status, pay 50% less for travel. On the railway, this discount begins to apply even before retirement age.

But there are also additional benefits. If a retiree comes to a museum or national park, he also pays less. The exact amount of the discount must be clarified on site.

For pensioners there are discounts when using the swimming pool and country club.

Additional pension increase

If a person has worked in Israel for less than 10 years and does not have much experience, then he will receive a basic amount from the state - 1.5 thousand shekels (about $400). But that is not all.

With more than 10 years of experience, he receives an increase (2%) for each year.

If a pensioner has his own apartment, then he can live on this amount. Such people are considered “social pensioners” in Israel and have additional discounts and benefits.

If a person does not have his own home, then in addition to the specified amount he receives an additional payment from the Ministry of Construction. He is categorized as both “Social Pensioner” and “In Need of Housing”. The amount of the subsidy received is determined individually and depends on the city (in some cities in Israel you can rent an apartment very expensively, in others it is relatively cheap), as well as on the characteristics of a particular person’s life.

A single person receives about 799 shekels/month, a retired couple has from 999 to 1201 shekels ($261–313).

This amount may not be enough to rent a house and then you have to add from your pension. Therefore, a person living on social benefits must manage his money more carefully and not throw it left and right.

Having such an allowance, a person can earn extra money. But even in this case, he must count on receiving a certain amount. If he earns a higher salary, he may lose the bonus to his pension. To avoid this, you need to find out in advance up to what specific amount you can earn extra money.

How to get a pension with a supplement

The maximum payment amount is NIS 3,000. This amount is less than the cost of living. Against this background, the pensioner has the right to submit a request for additional payment to the National Insurance Institute.

You can submit such an application in the following cases:

• If a person is single and does not have any savings, or the total amount of his savings is no more than 30.0 thousand shekels (9.0 thousand US dollars).
• If a couple of pensioners have no more than 50.0 thousand shekels (13.0 thousand US dollars) in their joint account.

New repatriates are also entitled to an additional payment.

Benefits for Israeli pensioners in 2021

It is not only the Israeli government that is trying in every possible way to improve the living conditions of older people. Many charitable associations, organizations and foundations try to help the elderly.

In addition to pension payments, various types of benefits and additional payments, Israeli pensioners also have access to a number of social benefits that significantly increase the level and quality of their life. Among the main ones are the following:

1. Pay half the fare on public transport and trains.
2. Discounts on flights with Israeli airlines.
3. Reduced parking costs by 25%.
4. Free or with a significant discount of up to 50% entry to museums, theaters, exhibitions and cinemas.
5. Exemption from paying arrone or providing a discount.
6. Benefits for paying for electricity, TV channels and purchasing medicines.
7. Providing social housing.
8. Benefits for paying land tax.
9. Compensation for the cost of health insurance.
10. Benefits for banking services: Exemption from service fees; Preferential overdraft; Free issuance of check books.

Old age benefit for immigrants

Repatriates who moved to Israel before the age of 60-62 are eligible to receive such benefits. If a person moved to one of the countries that has a joint convention on social security with Israel, then he still receives old-age benefits - even if he became a citizen of another state.

Some Israeli citizens are entitled to a special old-age benefit.

To do this you need to fill out an application. you can here.

You must have a new repatriate’s identification card (teudat ole) with you.

Teudat Ole. The size is the same as a Russian passport. Opens from left to right.

More detailed information about this can be found on the website of the National Insurance Institute.

If a person intends to leave Israel, he is obliged to notify the National Insurance Office. If he does not inform in a timely manner about his departure abroad, this will entail a debt.

Repatriation to Israel of a pensioner from Russia

Regardless of age, any Russian who has managed to prove his involvement in Jewish blood can become a participant in the repatriation program and return to his historical homeland. At the same time, the Israeli authorities largely contribute to the smooth adaptation of the new citizen to Jewish society.

The emigration of pensioners to Israel has been steadily increasing in recent years. Older people are attracted to:

• Comfortable climate;
• Availability of seaside resorts;
• High class medical care;
• Decent pensions;
• High life expectancy;
• Russian-speaking environment;
• Possibility of traveling around the world with a Jewish passport.

It is worth saying that each participant in the repatriation program, including pensioners, is allocated an absorption basket as a subsidy for relocation. The issuance of funds from it is guaranteed by local migration legislation and is made within the first year after moving.

It includes a cash allowance, which the repatriate has the right to spend on:

• Apartment rental;
• Teaching Hebrew in ulpan;
• Health insurance.

Payments are made in two ways:

• Part of the funds is given in cash at the airport when meeting the repatriate;
• The remaining amount is transferred to a bank account, which the migrant is required to open within a few days after arriving in the country.

In addition to the lifting funds from the absorption basket from the Sokhnut agency, the newly minted citizen must submit documents for an Israeli pension. If he arrived in the country before reaching the age of 60 and worked in Israel for at least 60 months, the National Insurance Institute will pay him a pension. If the new repatriate has reached the age of disability before moving, he should contact the Ministry of Finance for payments.

Submitting an application for a pension

On October 1, 2021, the Social Protection Convention, which was signed by the Russian Federation and Israel, entered into force. According to this document, repatriates now have the right to receive pensions and other payments from Russia.

Not only Russians have the right to a pension, but also those who have never had Russian citizenship, but only worked for some time on the territory of the Russian Federation.

For the right to a pension, the length of service in Russia and Israel is summed up. An application for receiving payments can be submitted to the territorial division of Bituach Leumi. applications can be found here.

The application must be accompanied by proof of employment or a work record book. It is also allowed to submit a certificate of salary in Russia.

If a person does not have a salary certificate or a work book, he can independently contact the employer. He should also submit a request to the city archive or the federal archive of the Russian Federation.

You can order a certificate of work and salary amount online. Required page: https://archives.ru/feedback/seniority.shtml.

Is it possible to receive a Russian pension in Israel?

You can work all your life in Russia, and at the age of 70 you can decide to move to another country, but you don’t want to lose payments on an honestly earned pension. When emigrating to Israel, you won’t have to lose anything: there you can safely continue to receive your Russian pension.

Requirements for new repatriates to receive payments from Russia:

• reaching retirement age under Russian law;
• insured work experience;
• maintaining Russian citizenship.

The last point is optional, but it makes the procedure faster and easier.

To receive funds, before moving, you can contact the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation at your place of registration or send an authorized representative there while in Israel.

You can receive funds only to an account in a Russian bank or through an authorized representative. This could be, for example, your son, sister or close friend.

Pension or benefit

Elderly people who have arrived for permanent residence, but do not have the right to form pension savings, will receive a poverty benefit.

The poverty benefit is the same as the old age benefit. However, it can only be received within a year.

These are social additional payments for certain categories of emigrants:

• Persons with income levels lower than the established subsistence level.
• For those who generally have no source of financial support.
• Repatriates who have no savings.
• People who don't have a car.

Citizens who came to the country after 60 years of age can only count on a special benefit, which is no larger than the regular social allowance. In addition, this benefit is paid only to men. If a man is married, then he is paid an amount equal to half the basic benefit provided for his wife.

One more nuance: if spouses of retirement age are not divorced, but live separately, then each of them receives the full amount of payments guaranteed by the state.

Types of pensions (minimum, old age, for disabled people)

In the state, instead of the term minimum pension, the wording is used: basic pension rate (BPS), which for a single pensioner is equal to 1554 ILS (28609.14 RUB) and 2355 ILS (43355.55 RUB) for a married couple, provided that the spouse is not entitled to work pension. For residents over 80 years of age, the BPS is equal to 1,641 ILS (30,210.81 RUB), and for a married couple – 2,400 ILS (44,184 RUB).

The amount of the total benefit consists of the pension of one of the spouses and an increase in bonuses for the second spouse (the wife has the right to claim a 50% increase in the spouse’s pension). If desired, a husband and wife living separately have the right to receive a 100% pension each for themselves.

In addition, the state allocates 492 ILS (9057.72 RUB) for each minor.

In 2021, the average pensioner acquired the right to increase PBS. For each year of service, its volume increases by 2%. At the same time, the legal limit for the growth of PBS is 50%.

Old age pension is the most common type of pension provision. Israelis who have made contributions to insurance, pension or reserve funds are eligible to receive it. Since 2008, pension insurance has become mandatory for workers upon reaching 20 years of age. The total contribution includes 18.5% of the salary, of which 6% goes to the employee, 12.5% ​​to the employer. The employee has the right to choose the type of insurance and fund. The amount of pension received is determined by the amount of accumulated savings. If they are insufficient, an Israeli has the right to claim additional payment from the state.

The cause of persistent disability can be both physical and mental in nature. The amount of additional payment to disabled people cannot exceed 25% of the average earnings. Both minors and housewives have the right to apply for this type of benefit, provided that the spouse is insured. Repatriates acquire this right after a year of residence in the country. The amount of the benefit is determined:

• having a dependent (increases by 50%);
• the amount of income of the spouses, which in total should not exceed 57% of earnings;
• the presence of other income inputs (in their absence, spouses are provided with benefits);
• degree of disability (if it exceeds 75%, the Israeli is exempt from paying contributions while receiving benefits).

Problems for repatriates

At the beginning of 2021, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration suspended the payment of all benefits and benefits to new immigrants. The following benefits are not paid:

• for renting a home;
• for training in ulpan;
• for training in professional courses.

Also, lone soldiers were left without payments.

According to the head of the parliamentary commission on aliyah, K. Joel, this is due to the political crisis. The Ministry of Absorption does not have an approved budget. For this reason, in the near future, new repatriates can only count on the “absorption basket” allotted to them by law. More information about this can be found here: haifainfo.com.

Deductions for repatriates

An emigrant who has proven his native Israeli identity is considered a repatriate. He can count on many of the benefits enjoyed by the Jews. This is how the state tries to support its compatriots.

The size of the pension in Israel for repatriates is influenced solely by length of service. A person who has worked for the state for at least 10 years will receive 600-800 dollars (1530-2300 NIS) every month. Without experience, the amount of accruals will not exceed $500.

The pension in Israel for repatriated pensioners also depends on the length of their stay in the country. If he is absent for more than 2 months, then the accrual of funds stops.

After 80 years, the contribution increases slightly and amounts to 1620-2390 NIS.

The amount of deductions for immigrants is below the minimum income level. But, if the benefit was issued through Bituach Leumi, and the person does not have any source of receiving additional funds, then the body equalizes the amount of payments to the permissible limit. So, from 64 to 70 years old it will be 2800-4170 NIS, from 70 to 80 years old - 2900-4300 NIS, and from 80 years old - 3020-4470 NIS.

Russian Federation pension upon repatriation

It is also possible to obtain a Russian pension in Israel. If a Russian pensioner who has come to the Israeli state for permanent residence retains citizenship of his native country, he can receive money from the Russian Pension Fund. There are two ways to do this:

1. You can regularly come home and withdraw your savings.
2. You can transfer your pension to an international plastic card.

The recipient is required to notify the Russian Pension Fund about moving to Israel at least a month in advance. And after your departure, once a year you need to provide confirmation to the Pension Fund that the applicant is alive and needs a pension. In addition, the repatriate must provide evidence of his unemployed status.

Ranking of pensions in the world

Pension amount

The amount of pension accruals is determined:

• age of the applicant;
• work experience;
• the position held by the pensioner and his qualifications;
• amounts of contributions to pension, insurance and reserve funds;

There are no official statistics on the average pension parameter. Indirect data suggests 5.3 thousand ILS (97.573 thousand RUB or $1.44 thousand). Payments to men amount to 6.8 thousand ILS (125,188 thousand RUB), to women – 3.8 thousand ILS (69,958 thousand RUB). The difference is explained by the relatively low assessment of women’s work, as well as the shorter duration of insured work experience.

Interesting from BBQcash. A special feature of pensions in Israel is their relatively high labor income replacement rate. About 30% of Israelis receive less than 30% of their earnings during retirement. On average, the replacement parameter varies between 50-70%.

Pensions for repatriates may be increased

In 2021, the Russian Federation and Israel entered into an agreement on pension provision for repatriates. This agreement concerns citizens who left the RSFSR before 1992. Previously, they were not entitled to payments at all, but the signed agreement eliminated this injustice.

The Israeli side provided detailed information about repatriates from the Soviet Union since 1972. According to these data, more than 669 thousand immigrants from the USSR live in Israel today:

1. Veterans of the Great Patriotic War.
2. Liquidators and victims of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
3. Participants in combat operations (they are entitled to a military pension, and they are also entitled to fairly large disability pension payments).

The purpose of the signed agreement is to resolve issues related to difficulties in obtaining pensions. Russia and Israel have distributed financial obligations for payments for the length of service accumulated by citizens in both countries when assigning pensions.

According to experts, the signed document should regulate the mechanism for receiving disability pension benefits for citizens who have lost their ability to work. If the reason for the inability to work is valid, for example, an accident at work or an illness resulting from the characteristics of the profession, then you can count on payment of benefits.

The document also provides for payments for families with children. Depending on the territory in which the children currently live, payments will be calculated in accordance with the legislative standards of one of the states - either Russia or Israel.

One of the points in the document concerns persons who left the Russian Federation in the early 90s and did not have civil status in Russia. They are also provided with a pension.

The document is valid in 2021, i.e. repatriates can increase the amount of pension payments due to old merits.

Despite all the tempting prospects, before planning a happy old age in the Promised Land, you need to think about the fact that in Israel, not only the standard of living, but also prices are higher than in Russia. Therefore, it is not always possible to count on the fact that benefits and pension payments will be enough for a decent and comfortable existence after repatriation.

In addition, due to the requirements for the retirement age, when moving before the age of 60, a situation may arise in which you will have to look for work in a foreign, unfamiliar country. Therefore, you should not go just believing in the best; you need to calculate all possible options in advance and understand all the nuances of the Israeli pension system, and only after that decide for yourself whether there is any point in such a change of residence.

Additional benefits (additional payments) to pension

Additional payments are provided:

• necessary until reaching the subsistence level (in the absence of other sources of income);
• for length of service;
• for deferred pension;
• caring for those in need of outside help.

In cases where the amount of old-age pension payments is less than the subsistence level, residents of the country acquire the right to receive old-age benefits from the National Insurance Institute with an additional payment, the basic amount of which for a pensioner 70 years old and younger is 3228 ILS (59427.48 RUB) and 5102 ILS (93927.82 RUB) – for a married couple.

The largest amount of benefits with additional payment for spouses living with two minors is 7 thousand ILS (128.87 thousand RUB).

To receive bonus payments you must:

• the total income of a single pensioner or a married couple did not exceed 3228 ILS and 5102 ILS, respectively;
• the applicant was a citizen or permanent resident - when staying outside Israel, payments cannot be made for more than 72 days;
• the applicant was not: a member of agricultural communes or communities operating on a cooperative basis;
• owner of a vehicle worth more than 41 thousand ILS (754.81 thousand RUB);

The pensioner did not receive other social benefits besides the pension.

Residents of Israel and Jewish settlements in Palestine who have become disabled as a result of terrorist actions can also count on social benefits.

Pension benefit

Those who are just planning to move to this country are interested in the question of how retirees live in Israel. Considering that in the CIS countries the level of income of retired citizens is not very high, then it is quite logical that migrants are interested in whether they can live on an Israeli pension.

Application Procedure

To become a recipient of benefits, you must write an application to the National Insurance Institute (Bituah Liumi) at your place of permanent residence. This must be done within 12 months of reaching retirement age. If the application is submitted later, the authorized body has the right to pay the subsidy retroactively, but not more than 1 year in advance.

If the application was submitted at an age when the pensioner has an absolute right to receive benefits, but with some delay, the department can also make payments for the past period, but not more than 2 years.

In the application form, you must indicate your personal data and attach to it all the necessary papers proving the applicant’s right to receive benefits or additional payments to them. The request form can be sent by mail.

Where to contact

In both the case of applying for a pension and a supplement, an application for a pension in the approved form is submitted to the nearest branch of the National Insurance Institute. The application can be submitted by personal visit, by mail, by fax, electronically or in any other available way.

You can submit an application for payment of the bonus immediately when applying for a labor pension or later, after the income of the pensioner or family is below the mentioned indicators.

When is it paid?

The state old age subsidy is paid every month on the 28th. Payment is made by transferring funds to the recipient's account or a joint account with the following related parties:

• spouse;
• parents;
• brother, sister;
• daughter or son.

Citizens who were born before the 15th day of the month begin to receive payments in the month in which their birthday fell. Those born after the 15th will be able to receive subsidies only in the month following the one in which they reached retirement age. Persons entitled to additional payment will be able to receive it in the month of birth.

What deductions are provided?

When calculating benefits, you need to take into account deductions that are withheld by the state. These include:

• monthly health insurance premium is $55 (196 NIS) for a single person and $79 (283 NIS) for a married couple;
• alimony;
• debts on insurance premiums;
• 103 NIS ($29) from the Department's allowance.

If the second spouse continues to work after receiving the funds, deductions will be made on a married couple basis. Conditions change only if the husband and wife live separately.

Benefit payment procedure

Old-age benefits are provided to those people who began to live in the country after 60 years of age. They are called new repatriates. A woman living with her husband will not receive benefits. Only the spouse can count on him. The amount of this social benefit will be equal to the standard accrual, taking into account allowances for the wife.

Living expenses often exceed income. Therefore, before emigrating to the country, it is better to carefully weigh the pros and cons.

A special feature of old-age benefits is that it cannot be accrued to a citizen who lives in the country for less than 10 months a year.

Retirement age in Israel: at what age does it begin?

In the Jewish state, older people have every right to rest and receive a well-deserved remuneration. The retirement age of Israelis is fixed by law and is considered mandatory for all residents. Recently, many states, with the aim of reducing budget expenditures, are beginning to gradually increase the indicator for the male and female population. A similar reform has now been introduced in Russia, and the local government to some extent adheres to it.

For men

Until 2004, Israeli men were considered elderly when they reached 65 years of age. Following changes in 2004, men began to retire at age 67. There will be no changes in this direction in 2021.

For women

In 2021, a bill was proposed to increase the retirement age threshold for women. The new pension law, which would gradually shift the threshold to 67 by 2030, is still under consideration. It caused an extremely negative reaction in society and provoked mass protests and rallies. It is unknown whether the innovation will be accepted, but in 2021 there was an increase in it. Until 2017, women were officially considered pensioners upon reaching 62 years of age. Now the female threshold is considered to be 64 years old.

Is it worth becoming a repatriate at retirement age?

You should not expect that the pension in Israel will be so large that a person who comes to this state will be able to live on social benefits alone, since they will amount to a maximum of $500 per month. With the standard of living that exists in this country, this amount will not be enough. Renting an apartment alone can cost at least 400 euros; to this amount you must add expenses for utilities, food and clothing. Even if older people eat in special soup kitchens, there will still not be enough money. It would be wrong to repatriate to Israel, guided only by material gain, since it will not be possible to obtain it.

In Israel, only those pensioners who have lived in the state for ten years and worked for its benefit can live in prosperity. In addition, a number of additional benefits are provided for local residents, which also play a significant role.

For example, Israeli pensioners do not pay land tax and can take advantage of benefits for television and other government services. Citizens who retire in Israel can count on a one-time payment. It serves as a good large reward. As you can see, the difference between people who came to Israel to receive a pension and those who live in the territory and are considered full citizens of the state is quite large, and the amounts differ significantly. Therefore, before taking such a responsible step, you need to carefully rethink everything and choose a more acceptable option for yourself.

The topic of raising the retirement age is on everyone's lips today. Some were planning to retire and making plans to spend time on a well-deserved rest. Others hoped that grandparents would soon devote more time to their grandchildren. But the “eternal” government intends to put an end to our dreams, planning to send a bill (or maybe it has already sent it) on the retirement age to the State Duma.

If the bill is adopted and signed by the president, men will retire at 65, and women are promised to increase the retirement age by as much as eight years. The same Medvedev, Golikova, Kudrin, President Putin, with the interesting formulation “be careful about raising the retirement age,” conceived this “w-w-w” for a reason. Just a few years ago, statistics stated that 40 percent of all deaths in Russia occur in people under 60 years of age. Men die approximately 10-15 years earlier than women. The average life expectancy for men is 59 years, for women - 73 years. Today, judging by Moscow, where migrants, purely visually, are already replacing native Russians in many areas of our lives, the statistics have not improved. We are dying - and quite early.

The reasons for our extinction are banal, like the entire Russian economy, in fact. Ten percent of those in power simply gobble up the income or savings of the remaining part of the country's population. They have trillions in salary income, special raises, bonuses and, finally, the ability to uncontrollably dispose of Russia's mineral resources. It’s unlikely that anything will flow from there into the pension fund. And then the grandchildren are growing up - are they old people?

But this is not what the current (and past) initiators of the pension reform are focusing on. The main reason, in their opinion, for raising the age limit is that the country does not have money for pensioners. At the same time, numerous statements in recent years about the disappearance of funds from the pension fund are completely forgotten. And how much money has flowed abroad from the same non-state pension funds. Even if they hang around here, there is no money for future retirees.

There is a lot of good talk about the fullness of the pension bag. But the simplest and time-tested proposal to reform the tax system in Russia is met with hostility by hereditary economists. The current situation, when the oligarch and Baba Manya pay ten rubles into the state treasury, suits them.

Nevertheless, the state has money for pensioners. The truth is not ours. A couple of years ago, an agreement between the Russian Federation and Israel on cooperation in the field of social security was ratified. The emphasis was also placed on Soviet repatriates. True, no one began to clarify why we should pay pensions to those who for decades did not pay money either to the pension fund of the USSR or Russia, which, by the way, is the legal successor of the USSR.

Then our rich Ministry of Labor delighted the local pensioners by announcing that Russia’s spending obligations to pay pensions to residents of Israel in 2021 would amount to about 5.4 billion rubles. And there are about 100 thousand such lucky people in Israel.

And another interesting data - the total expenses of the Pension Fund for paying pensions abroad in 2015 amounted to 36 billion rubles. And member states of the Eurasian Economic Union were already lining up to receive our pensions. For the new generation, let us remind you that all the current states of Central Asia of the former USSR, which for some reason almost all abandoned the Cyrillic alphabet, switching to the Latin script. This is true, by the way.

However, not everything is so bad. Many were encouraged by the statement of the permanent defender of those oppressed by United Russia, deputy Andrei Isaev. Social and labor issues are his strong point. According to him, “the faction will not consider the issue of raising the retirement age in isolation from the task set by the president to increase the standard of living of pensioners.” So we will wait for an increase in our well-being. Well, those who are in a hurry to raise it will have to go to Israel and wait for a Russian pension there.

And I would like current and future ministers to understand: with the extinction of the Russian population at home in Russia, replacing them with immigrants from Central Asia is not a problem. And if you throw out a cry, you can fill Russia within a year with people wanting to leave the warm lands of Africa and the Middle East. Another thing is whether these future “Russians” will be satisfied with the pension reforms of the current government? Just like the government itself...

Presenting the agreement to the deputies, Deputy Minister of Labor Andrei Pudov noted that it was prepared back in 2012 in pursuance of the instructions of President Vladimir Putin after his meeting in Israel with the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And in June 2021, the document was signed in Moscow.

The agreement is based on the proportional principle and provides for the distribution of financial responsibility of the contracting parties for the provision of insurance coverage for pension rights acquired in their territory. That is, Israeli citizens living in Russia will have to receive an Israeli pension.

The contract implies, in particular, insurance pensions for old age, disability, loss of a breadwinner, funded pensions and payments from pension savings, funeral benefits, in case of work injury or occupational disease for those who were insured or employed at work in the country providing the pension. This, in fact, is the main principle of the agreement: the determination of the right to a pension and its amount will take place in accordance with the legislation of the party in whose territory it was acquired. In this case, pensions, at the request of their recipient, are transferred to the country where the pensioner currently lives.

As for payments of benefits for temporary disability and in connection with maternity, they will be carried out in accordance with the legislation and at the expense of the state whose legislation applies to the insured person. Benefits for families with children are the responsibility of the party in whose territory the children permanently reside.

However, the agreement does not provide for the payment of valorization - an additional payment to those who worked in the Soviet country before 1991, and a fixed payment to the insurance pension if a citizen lives in the territory of the State of Israel. While a citizen living on the territory of the Russian Federation receives a pension in full, which includes an insurance pension, a fixed payment to the insurance pension, and valorization.

“Russian pensioners will not understand this”

As Irina Yevtushenko, a member of the Duma Committee on International Affairs, reported at the meeting, the agreement has already received approval from the Israeli Knesset, and the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs also gave its positive review of the document. “The senators have no conceptual objections, but there were comments and concerns about the uncertainty of the financial consequences of the implementation of the agreement. Thanks to the Ministry of Labor and Andrei Pudov, who explained that the funds have already been budgeted for the next three years. In 2021, more than five billion rubles will be needed,” the deputy said.

Members of the LDPR faction were active opponents of the document. Alexey Didenko was outraged by the upcoming outflow of five billion and asked how many people are now receiving Russian pensions abroad. Pudov replied that about 292 thousand citizens are now paid 40 billion rubles annually. “How much do other countries transfer pension money to Russia,” Alexander Sherin immediately asked. The Deputy Minister clarified that 50 thousand foreign citizens permanently reside in Russia and they receive pensions from the countries from which they left, but previously worked.

But the most verbose was the liberal democrat Anton Morozov. He remembered both the only indexation of pensions for Russian pensioners in February 2021, and the one-time payment of five thousand rubles in 2021. Morozov is sure that Russian pensioners will not understand such a prank: there is no money, but for some reason they found it for former citizens of the USSR in Israel. “Then let’s first carry out a full indexation for our pensioners, and then for everyone else!” - the deputy suggested. He said that the LDPR faction generally opposes any pension payments abroad. Morozov added that the amount of just over four thousand rubles (less than $100) will make Israeli pensioners neither hot nor cold.

Oleg Nilov from A Just Russia fully agreed with this. He said that another one should be added to the agreement, according to which the search and extradition to Russia of major criminals and fraudsters who are hiding in Israel from prosecution would be carried out.

And United Russia member Nikolai Gonchar, speaking from the faction, emphasized that United Russia supports the ratification of this treaty. “On February 16, 1967, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR decided that citizens traveling to Israel would be deprived of Russian citizenship. Then, on May 20, 1992, this decision was canceled, and in 1993 a new one was adopted stating that citizens traveling to Israel from Russian territory retain their pension rights,” Gonchar made an excursion into history and noted that the current return to non-citizens pension rights is the right step, because many of these people participated in the Great Patriotic War and are now often just making ends meet.

Gonchar was supported by his faction colleague Sergei Vostretsov, admitting that he was ashamed that people were deprived of citizenship for choosing a different place of residence. “If a person has earned his money, then he should receive it - we are not talking about gigantic sums,” the United Russia member noted.

Where do pensioners from Russia and the USSR live?

According to the Russian Pension Fund, in 2015 there were 16 international treaties in force that regulate our country’s relations with 20 states in pension matters. In total, pensioners living in 121 countries around the world receive payments. By the end of 2015, their number was up to 288 thousand people, and by the end of 2021 it is 292 thousand people.

More than 150 thousand Russian pensioners who have maintained permanent Russian registration receive their pensions into their accounts in Russian banks, the rest - in the currency of a particular country. True, pensions assigned after January 1, 2015 to Russian pensioners living abroad are paid only in Russia and only through Russian credit institutions.

Russian pensioners living abroad and receiving a pension from Russia:

— Germany — 96.9 thousand people;

— Israel — 40.5 thousand people;

— Latvia — 21.5 thousand people;

— USA — 20.3 thousand;

— Belarus — 18.2 thousand people.

How to transfer payments from Russia

Emigrants who, for some reason, were unable to report that they were leaving Russia to live in Israel can only count on the following payments:

1. A pension can be paid in Russia, only then the person will have to constantly come to the country to receive social benefits, or he must issue a power of attorney, according to which a trusted person can perform all functions.
2. You can apply for a card at Sberbank, in which case you will have to visit Russia several times a year. Or even easier - apply for an international card in the country in which the citizen lives. But in this case, the bank will charge a large percentage from the card.

Citizens who have warned about leaving for Israel will be able to receive a pension as follows:

1. First of all, you should send a request to the National Insurance Institute; there are several of them in Israel. Employees of the institution send a request to the pension fund in Russia, after which the applicant will be able to receive his pension.

Citizens who permanently reside in Israel will have fairly large payments.

It should be noted that most repatriates come to Israel to receive a high pension.

What can Russians count on in Israel?

Russians may well become citizens of Israel. Today, about two million citizens from Russia live in this state. A pension in Israel for a Russian who has moved to live in Israel will not be too large. It is less than the subsistence minimum. As soon as a person turns 67, he immediately begins receiving old-age benefits. In rubles it will be 26,000. Emigrants who have worked in Israel for 10 years can count on a larger amount.

But today there is a special agreement between the two states under which citizens who move to Israel will be able to receive an additional pension from Russia. It is 750 shekels. This agreement comes into force this year. Under this agreement, people who left in 1993 will be able to receive a pension supplement in Israel from Russia. As a rule, the increase in the minimum payments will be 13,000 rubles monthly. About 100,000 people will be able to receive such payments.