Mobility benefits are provided by the National Insurance Institute. They include various benefits that may be granted to people whose mobility is limited due to a disability that affects their legs (paraplegia).

General conditions of entitlement, applicable to all mobility benefits

1. The benefit was applied for before reaching retirement age*.
2. You are a resident of Israel.
3. You have appeared before a designated Ministry of Health medical mobility board to determine the percentage of mobility disability, and it has granted a percentage of permanent disability based on the list of disabilities (read the list here – in Hebrew).

*More details about conditions of entitlement can be found here on the National Insurance Institute website.

Ways of submitting an application for the benefit

The following steps must be pursued to submit an application:

1. Fill out the designated form here (in Hebrew) and have your doctor sign it.
2. Send the application by mail or submit it by hand to the district health bureau in your area of residence. The list of relevant health bureaus can be found here (in Hebrew).
3. A doctor at the health bureau will review your application and give you one of the following answers:
   • An appointment for evaluation by a designated medical mobility board (at least two weeks ahead of time).
   • Denial of the application due to failure to meet the criteria.
   • Request for additional medical tests or referral to a Doppler ultrasound.
4. You should bring the originals of all relevant medical documents related to the paraplegic disability (or certified copies signed by a lawyer, registrar or judge) with you to the medical mobility board. You must also bring your identity card or driver’s license.
5. The board will conduct a physical examination and assess whether your disability corresponds to the disabilities list (read the list here in Hebrew). You are entitled to bring a chaperone if you wish.
   Except in very rare cases, the individual applying for the benefit must be present in order for the board to convene.
6. After you leave the room, the board will consider your application. If they determine that your disability is included on the disabilities list and that your request for a mobility disability percentage should be granted, the board will also decide whether you are in need of a wheelchair.
   The board protocol will then be sent to you and to the National Insurance Institute. Once you receive the protocol, you can obtain the benefits by applying directly to the National Insurance Institute (you must be the one to initiate this step).

Submitting an appeal

You may appeal the board’s decision within 60 days of receiving the protocol. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the following address:

Secretariat of the Dispute Committee, Mobility Benefits Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Pavilion 67, Tel HaShomer, 52621.

After submitting the appeal, you will receive another appointment for a medical mobility board.

Mobility benefits and retirement age

As a rule, mobility benefits cease upon reaching the age of retirement calculated for said benefits.

In certain cases, it is possible to continue receiving the benefits even after retirement age, if you still meet the criteria of entitlement as well as at least one of the following conditions:

1. You were granted the benefit shortly before reaching retirement age.
2. You received a standing loan for purchasing a vehicle within four years prior to retirement age.
3. You received a standing loan for a vehicle that is still in your possession and owned by you.

Unlike the legal age of retirement, retirement age for the purposes of mobility benefits is identical for both men and women, and is determined by birth date:

• Men and women whose date of birth is before 6/1939 – retirement age is 65.
• Men and women whose date of birth is between 7/1939-8/1939 – retirement age is 65 years and 4 months.
• Men and women whose date of birth is between 9/1939-4/1940 – retirement age is 65 years and 8 months.
• Men and women whose date of birth is between 5/1940-12/1940 – retirement age is 66.
• Men and women whose date of birth is between 1/1941-8/1941 – retirement age is 66 years and 4 months.
• Men and women whose date of birth is between 9/1941-4/1942 – retirement age is 66 years and 4 months.
• Men and women whose date of birth is 5/1942 and onward – retirement age is 67.

Additional benefits: Each of the different mobility benefits that are part of the overall mobility benefit has its own separate conditions of entitlement.

Main benefits: monthly mobility allowance for those who own a vehicle; monthly mobility allowance for those who do not own a vehicle; loan for purchasing a vehicle or installing accessories in a special vehicle; learning to drive a special vehicle; disabled parking badge (read more on the Disabled Parking Badge and Disabled Parking Spaces page); and disability card and designated disabled parking space (read more on the Disabled Parking Badge and Disabled Parking Spaces page.

Conditions of entitlement for a mobility allowance: those who own a vehicle and those who do not

If you own a vehicle, you must meet the following conditions to apply for the allowance:

• If the vehicle was purchased with a standing loan, your name must appear on the vehicle registration. You may add additional owners to the license.
• If the vehicle was purchased without a standing loan, your name is not required to appear on the registration. The name of a guardian or spouse may appear on the license.

You may be entitled to an increment to the mobility allowance if you earn a salary and your workplace is at least 40 km from your home (provided you have worked there for at least six consecutive months before submitting the application for the allowance).

The allowance rate for vehicle owners (with or without a valid driver’s license) varies according to the size of the vehicle and other conditions. You can find more details and a table of allowance rates here.

If you do not own a vehicle, you must meet the following conditions in order to apply for the allowance:
*Under certain conditions, you may be granted this allowance if you do own a vehicle but it is out of commission.

• You are a legal adult and you have been granted at least 80% mobility disability, you earn a salary and you are not considered disabled under the National Insurance Law (read more on the Medical Disability page).
• You are a legal adult who receives an attendance allowance and you have been granted 100% mobility disability, or a Ministry of Health medical mobility board has determined that you require a wheelchair.

You may be entitled to an increment to the mobility allowance if you earn a salary and your workplace is at least 40 km from your home (provided you have worked there for at least six consecutive months before submitting the application for the allowance).

Rate of the allowance for those without a vehicle: NIS 2,364. Rate with the increment: NIS 2,847 (as of 2019).

How to submit an application for a mobility allowance: those who own a vehicle and those who do not

You may apply for a mobility allowance only after you have been granted a permanent mobility disability by the designated Ministry of Health medical mobility board described at the top of the page.

If this disability has been granted, as with applying for other mobility benefits, you must fill out Form 8200: Claim for Benefits According to the Mobility Agreement (you can download the form here in Hebrew).

The following documents should be sent with the application:

• Medical documents that were also submitted to the medical mobility board.
• Summaries of the illness and/or hospitalization.
• Valid medical certificate.
• Photocopy of vehicle registration and driver’s license if you have one (you may also include the driver’s license of anyone else you wish to drive the car).
• Photocopy of your car insurance policy: comprehensive and liability.
• Photocopy of guardianship order if relevant.
• Your signature on the form.

The form and accompanying documents can be submitted in person or by mail to the National Insurance Institute branch nearest your place of residence. Find the address of your nearest branch here.

More detailed information about all mobility benefits can be found here on the National Insurance Institute website.

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