National Insurance Heating Grant Rises to NIS 664 for Eligible Pensioners
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
Hundreds of thousands of Israeli senior citizens will receive an annual heating grant of 664 shekels from the National Insurance Institute by the end of October. Eligibility is tied to receiving an income supplement or a disability supplement alongside a pension, not just the basic old-age pension. Those who qualify for the income supplement, which requires a separate application, also receive other benefits like electricity discounts. The grant amount has increased this year and is now paid nationwide to all eligible recipients.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The annual National Insurance heating grant has increased to 664 shekels for eligible Israeli seniors.
- Recipients must have reached retirement age and receive a pension plus an income or disability supplement.
- The income supplement, a key eligibility factor, requires a separate application and income/asset declaration.
- Those eligible for the income supplement also receive other benefits like electricity and property tax discounts.
- The grant is paid automatically with October pensions on October 28th to those already receiving supplements.
- The heating grant is a family benefit, with eligible couples receiving a single payment.
Hundreds of thousands of Israeli households, primarily senior citizens, will receive the annual National Insurance heating grant by the end of October. This year, the grant amount has been increased to 664 shekels per family, intended to help offset winter electricity and heating expenses. The payment is automatically included with the October long-term pensions, disbursed on the 28th of the month, and requires no application from eligible recipients.
However, not all recipients of old-age pensions qualify for the grant. Eligibility is restricted to those who have reached retirement age and receive an old-age pension, a special senior citizen benefit, or a survivor's pension. Additionally, they must meet one of two conditions: either receiving an income supplement to their pension in October, November, or December of the current year, or receiving an old-age pension with a disability supplement, typically for those who previously received a general disability pension and transitioned to an old-age pension that preserves their previous payment level.
The key to receiving the grant is the income supplement, which serves as a safety net for low-income seniors. The National Insurance Institute's updated rules for 2026 indicate that an individual under 70 with an income supplement can receive a total monthly sum of up to 4,375 shekels, with higher amounts for those aged 70-80 and over 80. For couples, these amounts are higher. Eligibility for the income supplement is determined by income and asset tests, with specific thresholds for pensions, savings, and vehicle ownership.
It is crucial to note that the income supplement itself requires a separate application where individuals declare their income, savings, and assets. Those eligible for the income supplement who have not yet applied may miss out not only on the monthly supplement but also on the heating grant and other benefits like discounts on electricity and property taxes. The heating grant is a family benefit, meaning eligible couples receive one payment, not two. Previously, the grant was limited to residents of cold regions, but it is now distributed nationwide to all eligible individuals.
