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Contents:
Free Plane Ticket
No Interest Moving Loan
Absorption Center / Absorption Housing
Ulpan - Hebrew Language Training
Tax Free Imports or Purchases
Pre-School Fee Reduction
Monthly Rental Assistance
Property Tax Reduction
Unemployment (right away)
Home Loan Assistance/Grant
Child Allowance Payments - if
your a parent, READ THIS!
Relevant Links
This page will assume you are coming as an immigrant. It's not the only
option, you could come on a 3 year temporary resident visa or an extended
tourist visa (both offer some subset of these benefits).
As a new immigrant you are eligible for immigration assistance from the
Jewish Agency (Sochnut Yehudit in Hebrew), immigration benefits from the
Ministry of Absorption (the Misrad HaKlita), and citizen benefits as all other
Israeli citizens. Plus there are other sources of assistance as well (such
as the AACI - Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel).
Some of these benefits are free, some have strings attached, and some are a
rope you put around your neck and hope to get off before it chokes you to
death. The trick, of course, is knowing which is which.
Warning note: This information is constantly changing (particularly the
specific monetary amounts), may differ depending on marital status and family
size, and may be subject to the "interpretation" of the office/clerk
with which you are dealing. Therefore accuracy for your particular
situation is definitely not guaranteed!
How Current Is This Information?
These pages were written about an aliyah experience in 1996. Much has changed since then and Israel has officially become part of the ranks of first world countries. Organizations such as Nefesh b'Nefesh have arisen to streamline and smooth the aliyah experience, providing English speaking helpers on both sides of the experience (before and in Israel), performing some of the previously complex government steps, and even providing some direct funding assistance in making the transition.
I believe there's still much of value in these pages, but information such as taxes and immigrant subsidies has changed significantly (most of it for the better!). As of 2010, the reader is advised to consult with the Nefesh b'Nefesh web site and Jewish Agency Aliyah pages for up to date details.
The Jewish Agency has a long history of helping immigrants come to
Israel. They allocate resources and set rules depending on country of
origin. So, they assume that an immigrant from Ethiopia needs much greater
help than one from Canada (probably a safe assumption.) Over the
past 15 years they have had a new problem of many immigrants coming, collecting
benefits, and then leaving. Therefore they have placed many restrictions
on their benefits (which may only be noted in the Hebrew fine print on the back
page of contracts which you sign to receive the benefits). Buyer beware
(actually, receiver beware), the restrictions can be severe.
Registration with the Jewish Agency
Anyone receiving any benefits from The Jewish Agency signs that they will
register their current address with the Jewish Agency and keep them informed of
any change of address for their first 3 years in the country (in writing, within
a couple days of moving).
Anyone immigrating from the US (meaning, filling out immigration papers and
getting approval while in the US) may receive a 1-way plane ticket to Israel (on
El-Al airlines) free (well, almost free, you must pay a deductible per ticket, $100
in 1996.)
To receive this benefit contact an Aliyah Shaliach (immigration
representative) in the US and request it.
The Catch: Repay if you Leave
The catch? If you permanently leave Israel within 3 years after receiving the ticket
you're on the hook to repay the Jewish Agency for the cost of the ticket.
The Jewish Agency will give a no-interest loan no-payments for 2 years
loan to assist in moving (in 1996 the maximum amount was
$1,200). All that is required is filling out and signing a contract for it
in the US (with the money to be picked up in Israel).
To receive this benefit, in theory you only need to contact the Aliyah
Shaliach while in the US and sign a few papers (but read below).
The Catch: Israeli-based Guarantors Required
Although all US paperwork states that nothing more is required, it's
wrong. The Israeli financial branch of the Jewish Agency will not give you
this loan without having 2 co-signers in Israel. Oh, and catch #2, no
interest it may be but it is pegged to one of the Israeli cost-of-living
indexes, which increases 10-15% per year (a 15% no interest loan, neat huh?)
The Jewish Agency will place you in a temporary housing center (usually an
apartment building of some sort) for new
immigrants for up to 6 months free. However, this benefit can only be
exercised if the reservation is made before arriving from the US and has age and
marital status restrictions.
Another alternative is to be placed in temporary absorption housing (usually
small mobile homes). The difference being that absorption housing is
actually low-cost housing set aside for use by new immigrants whereas an
absorption center is an institution run by the Jewish Agency.
To get placement in a Jewish Agency temporary housing center (a Mercaz Klita)
you must contact an Aliyah Shaliach in the US before
coming to Israel.
Absorption Center (Mercaz Klita) Catch #1: It's NOT Free, It's a Loan
The value of the rent is accrued as a loan which you must begin to repay
after being in-country for 2 years. Again, is a no-interest loan pegged to
the cost-of-living (up to 15% per year). Oh, and the conditions in
absorption centers range from rather nice to welfare hotel level. Plus you
have to pay utilities. Granted the cost is about 40% of market prices for
rent.
A true story by an immigrant: "We arranged to be placed in an
absorption center on arrival. The Jewish Agency representative said he
found us a nice center in the area we wanted (Haifa as I had some job prospects
there) that catered to Americans. On arrival (with our young children) we
found a run-down building with worn out rusty metal frame furniture, a
refrigerator the size of a 2 drawer filing cabinet, a hotplate with 2 burners
(no oven or any other appliance), no bathtub (a shower-head in the side of a
wall with a hole in the floor for showering), and 4 washing machines (2 of which
were broken) for 300 families. And, everyone was speaking SPANISH.
Seems that it was an absorption center for South Americans. If they want
to send you to Mercaz Klita Sapir in Kiryat Yam, DON'T GO!"
Now I have also heard about some nice absorption centers for Americans
(specifically in Kfar Saba and Rannana), but again immigrant beware!
Absorption Center (Mercaz Klita) Catch #2: Age and Marital Status
Restrictions
"It's next to impossible for a 51 year old, single person to find place
in an Absorption Center." So says a very recent US immigrant.
"Understand that there is a distinction between Klita (absorption) and
Mercaz Klita (Jewish Agency absorption centers). A Mercaz Klita does NOT
take people who are single and in their 40s or 50's."
Absorption Housing (Klita)
"Here's the deal on Klita (absorption) which is not in a Mercaz Klita
(absorption center). You receive the Ulpan (Hebrew training)
subsidy. You go to a mortgage bank with your documents and sign up for the
rent subsidy (rent subsidy is not
available to those in an Absorption Center). These are both total
subsidies. You do however, pay rent and utilities monthly for your
apartment. My deal worked this way, I paid 420 shekel a month rent (in a
Caravan - mobile home - area for new immigrants). I receive a rent subsidy
every 6 months of 1500 shekel. I received an Ulpan subsidy of 1100 shekel
a month. That equates with unemployment for a new immigrant for someone
who has never worked in Israel -- in the first year."
The Jewish Agency offers free language classes for new immigrants (actually
the classes are funded by the Ministry of Absorption, but most are offered by
the Jewish Agency). The classes are offered at 3 levels, beginner,
intermediate and advanced. Each class runs 5 months (5 days a week for ~4
hours per day) and classes start twice a year. Classes are available at
various locations throughout Israel. Plus, if you (and your spouse if your
married) are both not working while taking the classes (and if you complete the
full level 1 program) they will pay you ~10,000 shekels for having completed the
classes. (However, only a daytime program, if you take a nighttime program
they will assume you were working and not pay.)
To receive this benefit speak with a Jewish Agency representative after
arriving in Israel. They will direct you to the nearest Ulpan, where you
can register for the next term.
The Catch: None.
No catch, and it's a very good idea to take at least level 1 (Uplan alef) if
you are not conversational in Hebrew. However, note that there are other
organizations that offer these classes as well. Ulpan-Akiva (in Netanya)
is the most famous and considered the best language school in the country (but
it's not free). Some yeshivot in Jerusalem also offer language classes
combined with Torah study (for free).
The Ministry of Absorption provides a number of benefits for new
immigrants. Most expire after 3 years with a few lasting 5 years. No
benefits from the Ministry of Absorption have any strings or catches.
During your first 3 years in Israel you may import household goods from your
country of origin 3 times tax free. 3 times means 3 shipments, you may
only import a "reasonable" amount of "household"
goods. A reasonable amount means 1 of most appliances, 1 bed per family
member, 1 house worth of furniture, you get the idea.
Alternatively you may purchase any Israeli manufactured or Israeli assembled
product 1 time tax free (again during your first 3 years). So, you can buy
an Israeli made refrigerator paying no local taxes or import one (you can't do
both).
For advice on whether to import or purchase appliances, see the Appliances
page.
If you exceed what's "reasonable" to import you will pay customs
duty. The definition of "reasonable" is purely in the hands of
the customs agent (as is the definition of what's "household", for
example, maybe since you don't use a lawnmower in the house it's not a household
item and therefore subject to import duty).
To receive this benefit on purchases you must mention your immigrant status
during a purchase. The store will provide you with some papers that you
must take to the nearest Ministry of Taxation office along with your immigration
certificate (teudat oleh). After having the papers stamped and returning
to the store you may receive your purchase (except for a refrigerator which,
when purchased tax free, can only be received via delivery from the factory,
which takes a minimum of 3 weeks).
To receive this benefit on imports you will take your immigration certificate
and your US passport to the shipping company after the arrival of your shipment
in Israel. Their agent will handle the processing for you (for an
additional previously unmentioned fee, of course).
Pre-School is from 3 to 5 years old. The Ministry of Absorption will
pay 90% of the cost of the pre-school of your choice (religious or secular) for
your first 3 years in Israel.
To receive this benefit you must request it and present your immigration
certificate to the school.
For up to 5 years the Ministry of Absorption will help you pay your rent (if
you rent). The benefit is a decreasing monthly amount starting around $150
per month (for families with 3 children or more) and going down from there
.
This benefit is set depending on marital status and family size. A recent
single immigrant reported that "it is 1500 shekel for 6 months (6 @ 250 NIS
per month) for a single person. I believe that it remains at 250 shekels
per month for 4 years and drops to 100 in the 5th year."
This benefit cannot be applied to the rental charge for the Jewish Agency
absorption center nor if you purchase a home. It is only for the rental of
an apartment in which to live.
To receive this benefit you must apply for it at a bank via their home
mortgage division. You must present your certificate of immigration, US
passport, Israeli ID card and a copy of your lease (in Hebrew and having been
stamped as having paid the document tax). While it takes about a month,
they will pre-pay you in 4 or 8 month increments.
As mentioned in the Taxes Page, technically all
cities/towns are supposed to give a 90% reduction in property taxes for 1
year. Some cities/towns may offer some ongoing reduction for up to 3
years.
Why did I write "supposed to". Well, most cities in Israel
have a very tight or deficit budget. They don't want to give this
discount. One method of decreasing this benefit that I have personally
encountered is only giving the discount on a portion of the tax on an
apartment. Meaning, if the tax is NIS 1,000, they will give the 90%
discount on only the first NIS 600 (after that no discount).
While a new immigrant is not working and not in an Absorption Center (Mercaz
Klita), he may receive unemployment payments for up to 2 years.
I have no direct information on the amount or restrictions, but I have heard,
for an immigrant family (of 3 children) the amount was around NIS 2,500 per
month. (If anyone reading this has better information, please e-mail me
at marksfam@netvision.net.il)
There is some significant home loan assistance/grant amount. It is
dependent on family size and is available during your first 5 years in country
only.
(I have no additional information on this area, if anyone reading this has
better information, please e-mail me at marksfam@netvision.net.il)
Citizen
Benefits
All families with children in Israel receive monthly payments from the
government for each child (until age 18). This is called a "Child
Allowance" or, in Hebrew, Kitzvat Yeladim. It is paid by the
National Insurance Institute, which is somewhat equivalent to US Social
Security. It comes with no strings, is not taxable, and is not dependent
on family income.
Who's Eligible -
