Netanyahu: disability pension to increase to NIS 4,000 in six months
PM announces implementation of committee recommendations on the issue of pensions for the disabled, says disability pensions will be equated to the minimum wage;disabled groups insist solution leaves them in distress; ‘we’ll demonstrate tonight in front of Netanyahu's home.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday the implementation of a plan to allocate NIS 4 billion to fund disability pensions for the severely disabled over the next four years.
According to the Prime Minister's Office and the chairman of the coalition, MK David Bitan, in January 2018 the pension for disabled people with a medical disability of 90% or more will be increased to NIS 4,000.
In addition, people with a medical disability considered less than 90% who are deemed unfit for work by the government will see their pensions increased to NIS 3,200.
Finally, in an effort to raise disability pensions for the remaining disabled individuals over the next four years to NIS 4,000 per month, the government will raise pensions for those with a medical disability below 90% over several stages to ensure the plan stays within budget. Nevertheless, it has yet to be determined whether or not this will apply to all people suffering various disabilities.
Netanyahu consulted with Prof. Avi Simhon, who headed a team that examined the issue, along with David Bitan and studied the report compiled by Dr. Yaron Zelekha, former Accountant General at the Ministry of Finance.
Netanyahu decided to combine their recommendations. "As of January 2018, a disabled person recognized as someone who cannot work will not live below the poverty line," the PMO stated. "The goal is to immediately change the existing situation in which a quarter of the disabled live below the poverty line."
In addition to the increase in allowances, it was reported that they will be equated to the minimum wage.
In order to encourage the integration of the handicapped into the work force, no disability pension will be deducted for workers who have earned less than NIS 4,200 a month.
"The program provides an immediate response for the most needy, it will significantly improve the situation of the disabled in Israel and will help integrate them into the work force," Netanyahu said.
While speaking at the University of Haifa, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu) received a note on the prime minister's announcement that he was adopting his plan. "I'm happy," said Kahlon to media representatives, sarcastically requesting that he not be photographed so people won't credit him for it.
Nevertheless, not everyone was pleased with the announced change and not all hurried to praise the government for the decision. "The goal of the solution was to quench the flames and to suppress the struggle of the disabled," said the chairwoman of the Israeli nonprofit Struggle for the Disabled, Naomi Moravia.
According to her, "citizens with disabilities scream with distress time after time, and the media says 'Things are going well and the disabled are satisfied. The reality is as far from that as north is from south."
Moravia maintained that "the solution presented leaves the disabled people in distress. The prime minister, his advisers and ministers did not even bother to turn to the disabled coalition that leads the struggle in the streets and on the roads. We are tired of being treated as numbers without faces and names; on Excel tables, transparent and without opinion."
Many vented their anger by taking to the streets. Heavy traffic jams were created on Tuesday afternoon, on Highway 1, from the Latrun interchange to Jerusalem, when the convoy of disabled demonstrators made its way to the capital.
The Struggle for the Disabled organization which is leading the agenda announced that they are determined to demonstrate Tuesday night in front of the prime minister's residence, saying the initiative is not enough to sustain those in need.
