Netanyahu promises to set up committee regarding extended disability allowances
The prime minister and chairman of the coalition reached an agreement with ministers Kahlon and Katz on the establishment of a team headed by Prof. Avi Simhon, which will determine extended disability allowances and submit preliminary recommendations within a month.
The prime minister's office announced that the three had agreed "to establish a team to determine the extended allowances and the manner of their distribution. The team will be headed by Chairman of the National Economic Council Prof. Avi Simhon and will include representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Welfare, Health and Social Security. The team will make initial recommendations within a month.
The team will be based, inter alia, on work carried out by the special committee appointed by the Ministry of Finance, headed by Yaron Zelekha, which examined the issue of increasing disability benefits.
"In presenting the conclusions of the Zelekha Committee to the prime minister in a joint meeting with the minister of finance and the chairman of the coalition, Minister Katz proposed to equalize the disability pension to the minimum wage in four stages starting in 2018," Katz's office stated.
It was also reported that Katz recommended "approving the conclusions of Zelekha in all matters relating to the reduction of taxation for the disabled who are absorbed in the job market…
"We need to bring about a real solution to the economic distress of the disabled, a captive population that is unable to work and live with dignity, and we are committed to creating a comprehensive reform that will upgrade their quality of life."
Political sources said that the approval of the "Net Family" plan initiated by Minister Kahlon does not depend on recommendations formulated by the committee to provide extended disability allowances.
Last week, the Knesset plenum approved the first reading of Kahlon's plan and the Finance Ministry said that the legislative process would continue parallel to the extension of the disability pension.
(Translated and edited by N. Elias)
