How to Get a Disability Card in Israel
Are you are a resident of Israel and suffer from a physical, mental, or cognitive disability? If so, you may be entitled to a disability card. This card, also known as a certificate of disability, can be extremely useful to you. It will allow you to access special benefits and discounts in various institutions in Israel. The following article will explain who qualifies and how to get a disability card in Israel. If you require legal help related to this topic or any other legal issue, feel free to contact our law office: 03-3724722.
Why would I want a disability card?
When you present your disability card in tandem with your National ID Card, it is proof of your status as a person with disabilities. Therefore, it gives you access to all the rights, benefits, and discounts you deserve. Services and sites that offer discounts to people with disabilities include all major means of public transportation, museums, national parks, and more. Additionally, people with certain categories of disabilities are entitled to an exemption from waiting in line and/or paying entrance fees for a caretaker. It will be specified on the card whether you are entitled to these exemptions. Note that since the card does not include a photo, it must be presented together with your National ID card at the point of service.
Who is responsible for issuing the disability card in Israel?
In Israel, the disability card is more formally known as a certificate of disability (teudat neche). It is issued by the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) and is supposed to be automatically sent to all those eligible for it. Most commonly, it is given when a person begins to receive a general disability pension or another disability stipend from BItuach Leumi. All the new disability cards are bilingual (Hebrew and English).
Who qualifies for a disability card in Israel?
If you receive a monthly stipend from Bituach Leumi through one of the following entitlement programs for people with disabilities, then you also deserve a disability card:
- General disability pension (including the stipend for the elderly disabled).
- Special services stipend (attendance allowance), also known as SHARAM (a stipend that is paid to non-hospitalized adults who require significant care from another person to fulfill their basic daily needs).
- Disabled child stipend, for minors with disabilities.
- Mobility stipend, to assist those who have an impairment in their legs.
- Compensation for victims of ringworm, a monthly stipend for individuals who were harmed as a result of radiation treatment for ringworm between 1946 and 1960.
- Compensation for victims of polio, a monthly stipend for those disabled as a result of the polio disease if contracted in Israel.
Do only people who receive a disability pension from the State receive a disability card?
It is possible to qualify for a disability card even without receiving one of the stipends mentioned above. Regardless of whether or not you receive a disability pension, if one of the following criteria applies to you, then you still deserve a certificate of disability:
- If it has been officially established that you have a medical disability rate of at least 90% (e.g. as determined by the Income Tax Exemption Medical Committee).
- If you were determined to have a degree of incapacity of at least 60% but are disqualified from receiving a stipend due to your income.
- In the case of a disabled child who does not receive the regular disabled child stipend only because they are in the foster home system
How do I apply for a disability card?
You do not need to apply directly for a disability card. Instead, you should submit an application for a general disability pension or whichever stipend is most relevant to your case. If Bituach Leumi has approved your request for a disability stipend, then they should also automatically mail the disability card to you. If you know that you qualify for a disability card but have not yet received it, this is most likely because of a mistaken address in the system. Do not physically go to Bituach Leumi if you have not received a card. Instead, call *6050 or your nearest branch and explain the situation to them. The card is valid for 7 years (unless your entitlement period ends before then). After 7 years, if you are still eligible, a new card should be sent to you automatically.
Other articles of interest
If this article was helpful to you, then you may find many other useful resources on our site. For example, you may be interested in the articles Disability Rights in Israel – a Summary, Applying for a Disability Pension in Israel, Applying for an Accessible Parking Permit in Israel, and more.
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The attorneys in our law offices have vast expertise in liaising between private citizens and the authorities in Israel, regarding an array of legal topics. If you require our services for a legal issue related to disability rights or anything else, please contact us and we will be glad to assist you.
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