After a long struggle - the Disability Act expands, with a new line for disabled children.
After months of discussions and meetings between the Speaker of the Knesset's Labor and Welfare Committee, the Ministers of Finance and Welfare, the Director General of the National Insurance Institute, the initiators of the Disability Struggle and the founders of "Disabled No Half Man" and other organizations - agreements were reached to expand the Disability Law. About NIS 900 million.
Disabled protest at Habonim Junction, Photo: Spokeswoman for the Disabled Struggle Groups
As part of the agreements, it was decided that beyond the planned pulse for 2021, set in the basis of the reform from March 2018 - another pulse will apply in 2022, which will be dedicated to the addition of designated rights as assistance to the disabled, especially disabled children.
Among the expected additions, it is a matter of comparing disability child benefits to the amount of special services benefits for adults - which is an increase of between NIS 176 and 436 per month.
This is in addition to the additions that are expected to be given to the pension in 2021, for a total of hundreds of shekels for children with a degree of 100% disability.
In addition, an allowance of NIS 1,000 will be given to parents of children staying in institutions, along with a supplement for adults staying in institutions.
The disabled block the Azrieli junction, Photo: Archive: Koko
In addition, a new and top level will be created in the special services allowance for adults and children - which will buy an additional NIS 1,000 for the allowance, along with lowering the medical threshold for special services for the disabled, to 40 percent disability.
Similarly, the mentally handicapped and people with intellectual disabilities and autism will be able to apply for this benefit.
In the process, the amount of the benefit for new immigrant disabled people will be compared, the supplements for the elderly disabled people will be increased, and more.
Last week, the first two debates took place within the framework of the Knesset's Labor and Welfare Committee.
The current move was made possible following various legislative amendments, including a joint decision, according to which the linkage of the disability pension to the average wage in the economy will apply at the end of all beats, in January 2023.
Avigdor Lieberman, Minister of Finance, commented: "This is a historic step that expresses my deep commitment to the disabled. Legislative amendments are a significant message to the disabled public in general, and the mentally handicapped and children in particular.
The "Disabled Become Panthers" organization took a central part in the protest (archive), Photo: Gideon Markovich
Meir Cohen, Minister of Labor and Social Services: "One of the goals I set for myself when I took office is to end the uncertainty that has existed for years with disability benefits. Today is a social holiday, where the Israeli government shows its solidarity and concern for the disabled public in Israel. Weaknesses that raise their eyes to us, and we will be there for them. "
Meir Spiegler, Director General of the National Insurance Institute: "The above achievements testify more than anything to the core role of the National Insurance Institute, in caring for the social security of all Israeli citizens."
The disability organizations that initiated the struggle, responded to the results of the struggle as well.
According to Alex Friedman, initiator of the disability struggle and chairman of "Disabled Not Half a Person", after seven years - the disability struggle ends successfully. "There is nothing more exciting than ending it with a historic message for disabled children.
For years we went up and down, and now we have managed to reach the goal line. "
The disabled demonstrate in Jerusalem, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon, Archive
Hanan Tal, founder and CEO of "Disabled Not Half a Person": "A budget increase of five and a half billion shekels, which will be distributed each year among the 430,000 general disabled, is a tectonic change in the economy of the State of Israel.
This is a holiday for the disabled public and for Israeli society as a whole, and we are proud to lead it on a completely voluntary basis. "