6,000 Holocaust survivors in Israel to receive increased benefits

Bill passes for holocaust survivors unanimously in the Knesset on Wednesday.

There are about 15,000 holocaust survivors who came to Israel after 1953, each receive 960 Euros per quarter from Germany. About 6,000 receive a guaranteed monthly income of NIS 2,200 from the state. However, the monthly 320 Euros from Germany is subtracted from that sum. The bill proposed by MK Tali Ploskov (Kulanu) would have the state no longer subtract the amount of reparations survivors receive from Germany from their monthly guaranteed income from the state, such that about 6,000 survivors will receive an additional NIS 1,200, costing the government an approximate extra NIS 7.2 million per month. Holocaust survivors who arrived in Israel before 1953 already receive the full NIS 2,200 per month, and many get more in disability benefits. Ploskov has Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon’s support, so the proposal is likely to pass.