Updates to Holocaust survivors' rights

Some 200,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel, many of whom are not aware of the rights and benefits they deserve by law in Israel and abroad. These rights come from organizations around the world, and they frequently change. The survivors and their descendants find it difficult to follow the changes and successfully take advantage of their rights.

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"Over the past year, significant changes have been made that expanded the group of monthly benefit recipients," noted Aviva Silverman, founder and director of the Spring for Holocaust Survivors association. "Administrative decisions were made that recognized new populations as eligible for monthly stipends, the list of benefits for survivors were updated, and more."

With the help of the Spring for Holocaust Survivors association, which helps Holocaust survivors realize their rights free of charge, Ynet has compiled a list of all recent updates made to survivors' rights.

A monthly stipend for forced laborers their children

In 2016, an administrative decision was made according to which those who, as children, accompanied one of their parents regularly to forced labor in countries under the yoke of the Nazi regime will be entitled to a pension.

Eligibility includes several conditions:

• The child accompanied the parent who performed forced labor under a government order issued against the Jews for a continuous and significant period, even if the child himself did not do any work.
• The children and parents would have been punished if they had not done the work.
• They were entitled to benefits under the Invalids of Nazi Persecution Law and immigrated to Israel before October 1, 1953.
  

This decision will make thousands of aditional Holocaust survivors eligible for monthly allowances.

Updated benefits to Holocaust survivors with low incomes

Six months ago, the monthly compensation rates paid under the Victims of Nazi Persecution Act, the Invalids of Nazi Persecution Law, and the The Holocaust Survivors' Benefits Law were increased. The change in rates occurred retroactively from October 1, 2015, and the differences were paid as part of the remuneration for November 2016.

In addition, there has been an update to compensation rates for Holocaust survivors whose income is below the established ceilings, increasing remuneration.

Some survivors who previously applied for compensation and were rejected for having an income above the established ceiling might be eligible for compensation following the update.

Recognition of other cities in Bulgaria and Romania

The list of ghettos recognized by the German Pensions for Work in Ghettos Law has been expanded to include many Bulgarian cities and a few cities from Romania.

There are two types of claims for work in ghettos: a one-time payment of €2,000 from the German Government Ghetto Fund and a permanent social pension from the German Federal Pension Insurance Institute.

Anyone who worked in one of the ghettos recognized as far of the law, even if he worked there for a short period, can apply for compensation from the German government.

Meanwhile, those who lived in those cities during the ghetto period and do not receive a monthly stipend from the State of Israel may be entitled to one from the German Fund. The recognition under the German Ghettos Law may also increase the percentage of disability for those already recognized by the Holocaust Survivors' Rights Authority.

Furthermore, a person who lived in these cities during the ghetto period and was born after 1928 may be eligible for a lost childhood grant from the Claims Conference.

Update to monthly stipend from Claims Conference

The monthly stipend given under the Article 2 Fund of the Claims Conference was updated in 2016, raising the sum paid once every three months from €960 to €1,008 (€336 per month). Recipients of the pension received the difference retroactively from 2014.

In addition to a €336 pension, Holocaust survivors who are citizens and residents of Israel are entitled to a minimum of NIS 2,248 a month, in accordance with the percentage of the survivor's disability and his income.

Annual grant increased to NIS 3,960

According to a recent legislative amendment passed in the Knesset, the annual grant paid to Holocaust survivors who do not receive a monthly pension has been automatically increased. As of 2017, the annual grant is NIS 3,960 (instead of NIS 3,600).