Unemployment

Unemployment Benefits

Avtala (Unemployment)

Unemployment is available to those who have willingly or unwillingly left their place of employment and meet certain eligibility requirements. It involves two different offices: Lishkat Hataasukah / The Employment Bureau and Bituach Leumi. Lishkat Hataasukah monitors the unemployed and assists them in re-entering the workforce by offering jobs suited to their previous training and experience. Bituach Leumi provides monthly unemployment payments for the duration of eligibility.

Who is Eligible for Unemployment?
One must meet all of the following criteria:

• Has been fired from or willingly left a job.
• Is recognized by Bituach Leumi as a resident of Israel.
• Is between 20 and 67 years old.
• Was legally employed (self-employed workers are not eligible).
• Has worked and paid Bituach Leumi from his/her salary for a minimum of 12 out of the 18 months prior to ceasing work. 

Quitting
If one willingly leaves a job and does not have a “legitimate” reason for quitting, they will only begin receiving unemployment payments 90 days after ceasing work.

Legitimate reasons for quitting include:

• A decline in one’s own health or that of a family member
• Worsening of working conditions so that the job is no longer suitable
• Moving far away from the place of work (60 km away from workplace; or 40 km for the mother of a child under 7 years of age).

A woman is allowed to leave her job following maternity leave in order to care for her baby.  However, if she cannot provide a “legitimate” reason for leaving (as mentioned above), unemployment payments will only being 90 days after registration.

One who willingly left a job will be required to present proof of these reasons to avoid a delayed start of unemployment payments.

Period & Rate of Eligibility
The maximum duration of one’s unemployment status will range from 138 to 175 days, depending on one’s age and how many dependents (i.e. spouse and children) they provide for. Bituach Leumi has a maximum distribution limit per month. If the amount due exceeds that limit, payments will be distributed at smaller increments over a longer period of time.

Refusing a job offer from Lishkat Hataasukah results in a loss of 30 days allowance.

The rate of eligibility is determined based on (a) one’s age and (b) the average of one’s income in the six full work months preceding their first report to Lishkat Hataasukah. Generally, the lower one’s income and the older the applicant, the higher the percentage of the previous salary they will receive.

How To Apply for Unemployment

Step One: Report at Lishkat Hataasukah
As soon as one stops working, report to Lishkat Hataasukah. This step is critical and should be completed immediately.

• Teudat zehut holders can register online via the Taasukah website , then must appear in person within 14 days.  

• Visa holders must register in person.

Applicants will need to present:

1. Teudat zehut or foreign passport with valid visa
2. Proof of loss of job, proof of legitimate reason for quitting, or letter stating the resignation was without a legitimate reason
3. Any professional certification (teaching certificate, college degree, etc.) that one has(optional)

Lishkat Hataasukah will:

• Register the applicant as unemployed from the date of first registration
• Take the applicant’s fingerprints
• Provide a form for Bituach Leumi to apply for unemployment payments
• Assign a weekly appointment time for the applicant to “sign in” using their mispar zehut or Bituach Leumi number at the machine located near the entrance

Lishkat Hataasukah is also responsible for offering job opportunities. These offers may begin appearing during one’s weekly sign-ins.

If one is sick, they must bring a doctor’s note to the next sign-in. If planning to be away (e.g. on vacation), this should be cleared with a clerk in advance.

In some cases, failure to sign-in can result in payment loss, though in others, Lishkat Hataasukah may accommodate by extending one’s allotted eligibility window and issuing payment at a later date.

Step Two: File Unemployment Status with Bituach Leumi
Submit the following to Bituach Leumi by fax, via internet upload from the home page of btl.gov.il or from one’s personal online Bituach Leumi account. Teudat zehut holders can also use this online form. 

1. Form BL1500 – unemployment claim form (not required when using the online form)
2. Proof of earnings: Letter from former employer(s) or tlushim verifying salary for 12 of the previous 18 months, especially the last 6 months. If one still holds another job, include tlushim from that job, as well (see Partial Unemployment below)
3. Proof of cessation of work: Employer letter with reason for termination or resignation, termination date, and employer signature/stamp. If quitting for a legitimate reason, submit supporting documentation.
4. Tax certifications, if applicable
5. Bank account details
6. For those without a teudat zehut: Proof of a bank account in their name such as a void check or a letter from the bank titled ishur nihul cheshbon

After processing, payments typically begin around the 12th of each month. Note that all payments are contingent on maintaining weekly (or monthly) sign-ins at Lishkat Hataasukah.

Avtalah Chelkit (Partial Unemployment)

Avtalah chelkit is a partial unemployment benefit that applies to one who has left or lost one of multiple jobs.

After registering in Lishkat Hataasukah as described above, one must file for avtalah chelkit at Bituach Leumi and include tlushim from both the job he lost and the job(s) he still holds.

To maintime avtalah chelkit payments, one must sign-in weekly at Lishkat Hataasukah as well as presenting the tlush of the current job to Bituach Leumi each month. This can be done via fax, internet upload or from one’s personal online Bituach Leumi account.  Bituach Leumi will take one’s ongoing income into account when calculating the partial unemployment they deserve.

Chalat (literally: unpaid vacation)

During the  COVID-19 pandemic, the working public became familiar with the term “chalat”, an acronym for chofesh l’lo tashlum, or unpaid vacation. This term was used when an employee was laid off for an indefinite period. 

An employee on chalat may still be eligible for unemployment, even if they expect to return to their job at a later date.

Workplace Injury

If one is unable to work due to a workplace injury – whether on the job or commuting – they may be eligible for teunat avodah benefits.

While process requires more paperwork and medical documentation, it may result in a larger stipend than standard unemployment.

Common Unemployment Terms

• Avtalah – unemployment
• Avtalah chelkit – partial unemployment
• Chalat – unpaid vacation
• Chofesh – vacation
• Dmei avtalah – unemployment pay
• Hityatzvut – appearing weekly at Lishkat Hataasukah
• Teunat avodah – workplace injury
• Tlush (pl. tlushim) – official pay stub(s)