Bill aims to boost benefits to Holocaust survivors

Legislation granting Holocaust survivors greater monthly state benefits passed a preliminary reading Wednesday.

There are about 15,000 Holocaust survivors who came to Israel after 1953, each receive 960 Euros per quarter from Germany. About 6,000 receive a guaranteed monthly income of NIS 2,200 from the state. However, the monthly 320 Euros from Germany is subtracted from that sum.

The bill proposed by MK Tali Ploskov (Kulanu) would have the state no longer subtract the amount of reparations survivors receive from Germany from their monthly guaranteed income from the state, such that about 6,000 survivors will receive an additional NIS 1,200, costing the government an approximate extra NIS 7.2 million per month.

Holocaust survivors who arrived in Israel before 1953 already receive the full NIS 2,200 per month, and many get more in disability benefits.

Ploskov has Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon’s support, so the proposal is likely to pass.

“I’m happy to have such a significant achievement,” she said. “We owe them.”

Ploskov said the next thing she plans to do to help Holocaust survivors is to pass a law to give them free public transportation.

Kahlon said the bill “does justice with people to whom we owe a moral debt.”

“This will help these people live in a more dignified way than they did until now,” Kahlon added.

The bill passed with 44 in favor and none opposed.