The special grant will join the NIS 1 billion allocated for the disabled population in 2020 • The leader of the disabled protest, Alex Friedman: "Another stage in the equality campaign has ended"
Demonstration of the disabled in Tel Aviv, January 2020
Photo:
Yossi Zeliger
NIS 562 million will be allocated to the disabled population, the Knesset approved today (Wednesday) in the second and third readings.
This is a special grant that was approved as part of a proposal submitted by the Minister of Finance, Israel Katz, and the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Itzik Shmuli. This amount joins the NIS 1 billion allocated during 2020.
"The grant comes in exchange for increasing the disability pension, and for the first half of 2021, in order to continue to assist the disabled population during the Corona crisis, as well as to fulfill commitments made to the disabled public in the past," the Ministry of Finance and Labor said.
"The amount of the grant will be determined according to the type of benefit, the level of eligibility of the benefit and the number of months of eligibility of the disabled person during the year 2020, as also compatible with disability organizations."
After the proposal was approved, Minister Katz said: "When I take office, I accompany the disabled public in their struggle, and I am happy and congratulated that I was able to lead the move, especially during a period of national crisis, when concern for the weak and weak takes on new meaning.
The grant approved today perpetuates our duty to take care of the disabled public, and to do everything until all the obligations towards them are fulfilled. "
The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Itzik Shmuli, also congratulated the approval of the grant: "I am glad that we have once again been able to transfer special grants to the disabled public, a group that is so dear to my heart "I am grateful for the solidarity and mutual guarantee that are so necessary in dealing with the Corona crisis. I thank the Minister of Finance for the joint initiative, the Minister of Defense for his backing and support, and the National Insurance Institute for his cooperation."
Disabled people's organizations expressed satisfaction with the move.
The leader of the disabled protest, Alex Friedman, who heads the "Disabled Not Half a Human" organization, said today: "After another day of delays on the part of Bnei Gantz, the law was passed in good time. "I am happy and excited to prove otherwise. The grant is part of the great law we passed in the amount of NIS 4.3 billion, and it is our common duty to implement it immediately after the election in its entirety and even to improve it where possible."
The founder and CEO of "Disabled No Half a Man", Hanan Tal, joined him: "This is an important move, which rebuilds the trust of the disabled in the government and reshapes the scale of values of the Israeli economy and society, which puts underprivileged populations first, especially in times of crisis. The corona. "
"I welcome any move that will lead the disabled to break out of the current cycle of disability among the disabled. We will continue to fight for an allowance that will allow the disabled in the country to live with dignity and we will continue to fight for the full rights of the disabled."
Eyal Cohen, leader of the Disability Protest and the "Disabled Become Panthers" group: "We hope that in the near future we will continue in full cooperation to end and receive the benefit differentials as stipulated by law."
