Disability in Israel

Teomima

Tue, Jan 05 2021, 4:54 pm

It's complicated. You apply to bituach leumi for נכות. They have a meeting and decide how much disability you're eligible for. It's not a ton of money, but if they find you eligible then there's certain benefits called סל שיקום which helps you in ways other than financially.

You can definitely work while getting disability, in fact if you can, you should. If you earn over a certain amount then they reduce what they pay you, but you still get something unless you're making enough you really don't need it. There's a calculator on the bituach leumi website that can tell you how much you are eligible for based on your degree of disability (set by a medical committee), your marital status, and income. I believe there's also a chart that details how much your disability support is reduced based on how much you earn.

FranticFrummie

Tue, Jan 05 2021, 4:56 pm

Bituach Leumi has a sort of "calculator" they use. There are percentages of disability. Basically, nobody gets 100% disability payments unless they are dead.

I'm bipolar, on a ton of meds, and I cannot work at all. I get 59% disability. I qualify for more, but if they bump me up to 60% they have to give me more money, so they will try to keep your percentage low. You have to appeal with more paperwork from your doctor in order to get them to adjust your percentage.

They also will not consider other conditions. I'm hard of hearing, but I'm not getting any percentage points for hearing loss. I have fibromyalgia, CFS/ME, memory loss, osteoarthritis, and a bunch of other stuff, but none of that goes towards my score either. They just pick ONE thing, whatever has the most documentation, and that's it.

Have you been in Israel long, and have you been paying into the system? If not, they will take a deductible out of your benefits every month.

The application process is like in the US - it's soul crushing. You have to go in there and tell them the very worst day of your condition, and basically live it all over again. Usually, at some point or other, they will make you cry. It's OK, go ahead and cry. It actually helps your case.

They will look at the paperwork you bring in from your doctors, but they will want their own doctors to evaluate you as well, just in case you are faking. They will look for ways to make you seem more healthy than you are. It's exhausting and humiliating.

You have to ask yourself, "Is it really worth it to go through all of this?" If you have no other option in life, then you need to suck it up and deal with it, and then go home and have a nice glass of wine or some chocolate. Congratulate yourself for surviving the appointment.

If you are still working, or partially working, it will be a lot harder to get approved. You'll really have to fight. If you feel like you can't go on working, make sure to get a letter from your last employer, explaining why you felt you had to leave, and how your issues impacted your ability to do the job properly. This will help IMMENSELY.

If there is anything I can do to help you, or if you just want to talk about the process, please feel free to PM me. If I knew where you are in Israel, I can probably help you even more. I'd like to help any way I can.

amother

Seafoam

Tue, Jan 05 2021, 5:06 pm

FranticFrummie wrote:

They just pick ONE thing, whatever has the most documentation, and that's it.

That's not true. I know two people personally who got Bituach leumi and their percentage is made up of different things. Physical and mental disabilities and they defined each one.

It is very hard to get it. We are appealing the decision for the 2nd time which means taking Bituach Leumi to court right now, we have about 50 papers from loads of well accredited doctors and from DHs past work saying he can't work yet at the meetings whenever we tried to talk the secretary there yelled at us to shut up. In addition the didn't recognize half the things we said or some of the diagnoses and wrote untrue things in the conclusion.

The system is terrible to say the least.

You really just need to get lucky.

Teomima

Tue, Jan 05 2021, 5:15 pm

amother [ Seafoam ] wrote:

Dh also has two. He applied for mental illness and was given a low percentage, too low to qualify for סל שיקום. But he was given 100% for an unrelated heart condition so financially he's always been eligible for the maximum.

I want to clarify a point I made earlier: while applying for disability, it's probably best if you don't work and can play the pity card for all it's worth. Once you get the disability, use the online calculator to figure out what balance of employment income+disability works best for you. You probably won't be able to make ends meet on disability alone so finding the right balance is key.

Teomima

Tue, Jan 05 2021, 11:41 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

How much is it per month? I didn't move yet. It sounds soul crushing and if it's only like $20/month or something it's not worth it. I'm very ashamed of my inability to hold a real job.

There are so many factors at play, no one can tell you how much you'd get. It depends on your marital status, how many children you have and how old they are, if you have any passive income, your spouse's income, if applicable, and of course how disabled they deem you to be. I think the absolute max, if you were to have 100% disability, be married and have qualifying children and no income, is 6,421 nis.
Here's a list of amounts to give you a better idea for varying circumstances (in Hebrew):
https://www.btl.gov.il/benefit......aspx

WitchKitty

Wed, Jan 06 2021, 7:06 am

There are companies that help you out with these things. I see them advertised all the time. It costs some money but worth it, they know their stuff.
Some stuff they do for free- simple medical thing sometimes.
I don't remember the names currently, but there are a few and totally worth it. (You don't pay if you don't get)
FF, my brother has disability from hearing problems. You can fight it out if you have the strength.

The main thing is? Make yourself look as bad a you can. Tell them you can't walk at all, that you don't remember your name, whatever. Whatever you're complaining about, exaggerate. Get proof from whoever you can.
OP, when they come to check, lie in bed, don't come out, talk to them in bed. When you go to them act as if you're crazy. If you can convince them you get what you anyway deserve...

FranticFrummie

Wed, Jan 06 2021, 7:15 am

I have a social worker who handles all of my paperwork for me, translates for me, and comes with me to BL appointments (and doctor's appointments if they don't speak English well.) I get my helper from the Or h'Nefesh office in Jerusalem.

We're still collecting paperwork and fighting.

The thing is, you can show them all the paperwork in the world, but then you have to see one of THIER doctors. They look at you, ask you a couple questions, and think "Well, you don't look sick to me. If you could make it to the appointment, you could make it to work."

What they don't see is me saving up all of my energy, my needing a support person, and then me crashing for days afterward from the stress and exhaustion. If I try to explain that, they brush me off. The only thing they are interested in is medical codes.

amother

Wed, Jan 06 2021, 7:16 am

WitchKitty wrote:

I can’t lie like that.

amother

Gray

Wed, Jan 06 2021, 7:19 am

Teomima wrote:

There's another benefit, called "Sharam". This will add between 1500-5300 shekel, depending on the level of disability. (you have to earn a lot of money in order to disqualify- income isn't generally an issue with this)
This is mostly about IADL (Instrumental activities of daily living)

https://www.btl.gov.il/benefit......aspx

Teomima

Wed, Jan 06 2021, 7:47 am

amother [ Gray ] wrote:

Yes but that's not going to be applicable if your disability is mental health related. That's for if you're totally bedridden/paralyzed/etc, no?

FranticFrummie

Wed, Jan 06 2021, 7:51 am

My social worker, who is a very frum woman, told me that it's not lying. What you have to do is describe a day when you just could NOT DEAL, a day when you needed the most help to function, and to describe it in detail. A real day, not a made up story.

It's hard, because we spend so much time and energy being "Fine. Just FINE!" and not wanting to show weakness. Nobody likes to be pitied.

Now the system wants you to do the exact opposite. You have to be vulnerable, and you have to admit that you do need help.

Think of it like going into the dentist. You hate having a toothache, you hate going to see the doctor, but you feel SO much better when you leave. You'll be sore for a while, but you'll be glad you got it over with.

FranticFrummie

Wed, Jan 06 2021, 7:57 am

Teomima wrote:

Yes but that's not going to be applicable if your disability is mental health related. That's for if you're totally bedridden/paralyzed/etc, no?

Mental illness can sometimes be every bit as paralyzing in certain ways.

If you have panic attacks on public transportation, and you need to travel an hour to get to a specialist, in a hospital you've never been to before, qualifying for a part time assistant can be worth solid gold.

Just having someone hold your hand, get you on the right bus, get you to your appointment on time, and make sure you get home safely - it's incredible.

If you are too depressed to get out of bed, having a person come to your house, coax you out of bed, encourage you to make a cup of coffee, and to take your pills on time - also priceless.

I can think of dozens more examples of things that I am physically able to do, but my brain doesn't want to let me.

Teomima

Wed, Jan 06 2021, 8:01 am

FranticFrummie wrote:

I'm not saying it's not!!! I totally agree with you! I'm just saying Bituach Leumi has another category of over 100% נכות that was mentioned above but that best as I understand it's designated for people with severe physical disabilities.