Homemaker’s Disability Pension in Israel – How to Apply
Are you eligible for a homemaker’s disability pension in Israel? If you are an unemployed married woman with a disability and are a resident of Israel, then you may be eligible for this monthly stipend. Therefore, if you have any type of disability that makes it more difficult for you to complete household tasks, then you should consider applying for a general disability pension as a homemaker.
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Who qualifies for a disability pension as a homemaker in Israel?
A woman who fits the legal definition of a homemaker may be eligible for a general disability pension if her capacity to function at home is impaired by at least 50% due to a disability or an illness. For the purposes of this entitlement, a homemaker is strictly defined as a non-employed married adult woman who is not of retirement age. In order to qualify for the stipend, you must also be a permanent resident of Israel. Additionally, you only qualify if you have not been employed for at least 12 consecutive months prior to submitting your disability claim, or have been unemployed for 24 out of the 48 months prior to submitting your disability claim.
Moreover, to qualify for the pension as a homemaker, you must live with your spouse in the same household. On top of that, your spouse must be eligible to receive an elderly stipend after their retirement. In other words, your spouse must be a legal resident of Israel who did not immigrate after retirement age. If all these conditions apply then you are eligible to receive a general disability pension as a homemaker. The size of the pension will be determined according to your degree of incapacity.
What is the difference between a homemaker’s disability pension and a general pension?
There is no essential difference between a general disability pension and a homemaker’s disability pension in Israel. They are the same pension, but the parameters for whether you qualify are different based on whether you are applying as a homemaker or as a potential member of the workforce. For example, a homemaker with disabilities can qualify for a pension even if their degree of incapacity is only 50%. However, a person who participates in the labor market must prove they have at least a 60% degree of incapacity in order to qualify. Moreover, the degree of incapacity is measured using a different process because it is not a reflection of your ability to make a living, but rather your capacity to function in the home environment.
Note that as a homemaker, you are still eligible to receive a bonus to your pension if you have children. However, unlike others who receive the general disability pension, you are not eligible to receive a bonus for your spouse, regardless of their income.
How to submit a claim for a disability pension as a homemaker
You should first prepare for submitting a claim to the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) by listing all the ailments and conditions that affect you. Make sure to list all the relevant conditions, whether physical, mental, or cognitive. Remember that they do not have to be related to the primary disability which prompted you to file the claim. Then, make sure that you have recent medical documentation that demonstrates the severity of each condition. This is important because your medical disability rate will be calculated according to the full range of your conditions using a complex mathematical calculation system. Bituach Leumi offers a bespoke online calculator (in Hebrew) if you would like to estimate your own medical disability rate. But remember that you are under no obligation to calculate your disability rate on your own.
Once your paperwork is in order, you should submit a general disability pension claim to Bituach Leumi. The submission can be done through an online form (in Hebrew) or through a hard copy form (in Hebrew). It can also be done over the phone by calling *3928.
A medical committee will then be tasked with assessing your medical disability rate based on the full range of disabilities that affect your capability to function in the home. In order to proceed to the next stage, the committee must first determine that you have a medical disability rate of at least 50%. Note that it is possible that you will be summoned to appear before the committee in order to answer some questions.
Your medical disability rate and your degree of incapacity
If the medical committee determines that you have a rate of at least 50% medical disability, then your case will be referred back to Bituach Leumi, which will then determine your degree of incapacity. Otherwise, your application will be declined. If you were told you have a rate of 100% medical disability, then your degree of incapacity will accordingly also be 100%. If your medical disability is between 50-99%, then you will be invited for an examination at a special institute by a panel composed of a physician, a social worker, and a physical therapist who will assess your degree of incapacity to perform household tasks.
Based on the assessment of this panel of experts, the National Insurance Institute will establish your degree of incapacity. They will then mail you a response regarding your eligibility for the stipend. If you have been assigned a degree of incapacity of at least 75%, then you will be entitled to the full stipend. However, if you have been assigned a degree of incapacity between 60-74%, then you will be entitled only to that proportion of the stipend. Persons with lower degrees of incapacity are not eligible for the stipend.
What comes next?
Assuming you are found to be eligible, you will begin receiving your monthly stipend at the rate determined and will be mailed a disability card (teudat neche). You should receive the stipend and the card within 90 days of your request being approved. You will also be given retroactive payments for any past period in which you suffered from the disability. But in any case, you will not receive retroactive payments for more than 12 months before the date you submitted your application. If you received a disappointing reply and would like to appeal the decision, then you must submit the appeal within no more than 90 days.
Additional articles of interest
There are more resources on our site that will help you understand the process of being recognized as a person with disabilities. Make sure to read the article Applying for a Disability Pension in Israel, which discusses the steps any person with disabilities would need to take in order to apply for a general disability pension. Other articles that may be of interest to you are Disability Rights in Israel – a Summary, Qualifying for a Disability Card in Israel, Applying for an Accessible Parking Permit in Israel, and more.
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If this article on the homemaker’s disability pension in Israel leaves you with more questions, feel free to contact us. Our law offices have vast experience with liaising between private citizens and the authorities in Israel. If you require legal advice or assistance regarding disability rights or any other legal topic, please contact us and we will be glad to assist you.
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