Holocaust victims to get higher pensions
Photo: Reuters
Disabled victims of Nazis to get higher stipends
Knesset's Finance Committee passes amendment to law that will enable survivors to collect additional monthly payment of up to NIS 900
Victims of Nazi persecution, who are receiving a monthly stipend for a disability caused during WWII, will also be eligible for old age pensions from the National Insurance Institute (NII) , which was unavailable to them previously due to a law barring the collection of a double stipend from the state.
The Knesset's Finance Committee passed the amendment to the law in its second and third reading on Wednesday.
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The amendment to the Invalids (Nazi Persecution) Law was initiated 13 years, but was met with opposition by the Treasury up until six weeks ago.
According to the agreement, the Treasury will allocate NIS 50 million in order to supplement the stipends.
Chairman of the Knesset's Finance Committee, MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) commented on the amendment, saying it is meant to right a wrong that has been inflicted on the victims of Nazi persecution for many years.
"This substantial payment is Israel's moral duty to the Holocaust survivors, who are reducing in numbers," he said, adding that survivors still suffer from injustices that must be addressed by the state "before it's too late."
