National Insurance Allows Unemployment Benefit Recipients to Earn Up to NIS 19,600 During Elections
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
The National Insurance Institute announced that unemployment benefit recipients can earn up to 19,600 shekels during the 26th Knesset election period by working in election-related jobs. This special arrangement is valid from September 12 to November 10, 2026, with wages paid directly by candidates or parties. The earnings will not affect benefit payments if all conditions are met, but will not count towards future eligibility periods.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Unemployment recipients can earn up to 19,600 shekels during the 26th Knesset election period.
- Work must be election-related and paid directly by candidates, parties, or the Elections Committee.
- The special earning period is from September 12 to November 10, 2026.
- Earned income under these conditions will not affect unemployment benefits.
- Days worked will not count towards future benefit eligibility periods.
The National Insurance Institute (Bituah Leumi) announced on Wednesday a special arrangement for unemployment benefit recipients during the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. Individuals receiving unemployment benefits will be permitted to work in election-related jobs and continue receiving their benefits, provided they meet four specific conditions. This measure aims to enable those on unemployment to take on temporary election work without jeopardizing their benefit payments.
The first condition is that the work must be directly related to the 26th Knesset elections. The second condition specifies the employment period, which is from September 12, 2026, to November 10, 2026. The third condition concerns the source of payment: wages must be paid directly by a candidate, political party, or the Central Elections Committee. Payments made through a manpower agency may affect unemployment benefits, according to the Institute.
The fourth and final condition sets an earnings cap of up to 19,600 shekels (approximately $5,300 USD) for the entire election period, not per month. The National Insurance Institute clarified that days worked under this arrangement will not count towards the qualifying period required for future benefit eligibility.
Employers involved in election work are required to report wages automatically to the National Insurance Institute. When all conditions are met, the earned income will not impact unemployment benefits, and recipients do not need to contact the Institute separately. The announcement also provided general information on unemployment benefit eligibility, which typically requires being an employed individual who has stopped working, registering with the Employment Service, and meeting a minimum qualifying period of 12 months of employment within the preceding 18 months.
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