It can be scary to find yourself suddenly without a job, but unemployment benefits are there to help tide you over and provide some income while you look for your next opportunity. Here’s what you need to know about collecting unemployment in Israel.
Eligibility for unemployment
You are eligible for unemployment if you meet these criteria:
- An Israeli citizen
- At least 20 years old (or meet the requirement for an exception, such as completion of army service or two years of National Service)
- Below the age of 67
- Have worked for a qualifying period. An employee who received a monthly salary must have worked 360 days out of the 540 days before becoming unemployed. A worker with a daily salary must have worked 300 days. Paid vacation days, sick days and maternity leave are all considered work days for this purpose.
- Registered as unemployed at the Israeli Employment Service (Lishkat Taasukah). Sign up as soon as possible after you lose your job.
- Willing to look into jobs or participate in job training provided by the Employment Service
You are not eligible for unemployment if:
- You are self-employed and have closed your business (unless you are a tour guide, lecturer or artist, in which case you might be eligible)
- You are a controlling shareholder in a company, even if you are also a salaried worker
- You are a member of a kibbutz or cooperative settlement, unless you are employed as a salaried worker (in the kibbutz/settlement or externally)
- You are receiving any of these payments: maternity pay, workers comp, vacation day payout, payment for reserve duty in the IDF
If you were fired, your eligibility for unemployment begins immediately. If you quit, then your eligibility for unemployment only starts after 90 days unless your quitting was seen as justified. Justified reasons include worsening work conditions, health issues, a change in commuting distance or sexual harassment in the workplace.
Applying for unemployment
In order to apply for unemployment, you will need these forms from your employer: Form 100, which includes your income from the past 12 months and a form which states the date and reason of the end of your employment.
If you have these forms ready right away, submit them here along with your application for unemployment. If you don’t have the forms yet, you can sign up immediately with Lishkat Taasukah and apply for payments later on.
Once you have applied online, you must appear at the Lishkat Taasukah within 14 days. You will need to bring ID: your Teudat Zehut, passport or driver’s license. If you are unable to work due to a medical condition, bring paperwork to back that up. Also bring an updated CV, certificates of education and proof of professional licenses.
The unemployment office will interview you in that first meeting and let you know how often and on what days you need to sign in at the office on a regular basis. There are some exceptions where individuals are not required to physically come into the office and there are times when all sign-ins are done virtually, such as during Iron Swords or during Covid.
Length of unemployment benefits
The length of unemployment benefits varies depending on age and number of dependents. For instance, if you are under 25 and have 3 dependents, you will get unemployment for 138 days. If you are over 45 with the same number of dependents, unemployment will be paid to you for 175 days. The length and eligibility for unemployment changes if you submit more than one claim in a two year period, or more than one in a four year period if you are under 40 years old.
Discharged soldiers and those who have completed National Service are eligible for up to 70 days of unemployment. Participants in vocational training are paid during their studies for up to 138 days.
Ending unemployment benefits
Once you have finished collecting for the amount you are eligible for, payments will stop automatically. If you still haven’t found a job, you might be eligible for income support from Bituach Leumi.
If you find a job before the unemployment benefits run out, you must inform Bituach Leumi and your payments will be stopped. In a situation in which you were on unpaid leave from your job, if you went back to work at the same business, your employer is responsible for informing Bituach Leumi that you have returned to your job.
Looking for a new job
Lishkat Taasukah will try to help you find a job, but their efforts are not often successful. We can’t find you a job, but we can give you advice about looking for one. Read these articles for guidance on looking for a job: