Dim Amor
The government has approved an emergency assistance budget for local authorities to support citizens whose homes have been damaged and deemed unfit for habitation. The Ministry of Finance emphasized that the measure constitutes an immediate response designed to provide initial support to affected residents, and that the grant does not replace the full compensation to which victims are entitled under the law, but rather supplements the existing compensation framework.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, citizens whose homes have been damaged and rendered uninhabitable are eligible for immediate emergency assistance in the amount of NIS 2,000 per person. Of this sum, NIS 500 will be transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank account to cover urgent needs, while NIS 1,500 will be allocated to the relevant local authority to finance expenses incurred in assisting affected residents.
The Ministry clarified that the grant does not substitute the existing compensation mechanisms, but is provided in addition to them. Officials stated that the purpose of the emergency grant is to enable a swift response during the first hours and days following the damage, in parallel with inspection procedures and damage assessments conducted במסגרת the full compensation mechanisms.
The system is designated for Israeli citizens or residents whose property has been damaged as a result of hostile acts or war, as well as for companies whose property has been affected under similar circumstances. Eligibility is subject to compliance with the established criteria and the submission of a formal claim through the online system.
The claim submission process is detailed in the Ministry of Finance guidelines: applicants must click on the designated submission button, which directs them to a screen for selecting one of three available tracks. After choosing the appropriate track, an identification stage is required. Applicants may select one of two options: authentication באמצעות a permanent password for the Israel Tax Authority’s online services, or identification באמצעות their ID number and the issuance date of the ID card.
Upon completion of the identification stage, applicants must fill in all required details in the online form and submit the claim. The Ministry of Finance stressed the importance of providing complete and accurate information in order to facilitate prompt and efficient handling of the request.
As the claim progresses, and once all required details have been submitted, the applicant will receive an SMS message containing a claim number for tracking purposes. From the moment the message is received, the official processing of the claim begins.
Claims submitted through the standard track will initially appear with the status “New” until a property appraiser visits the site. Following the inspection and damage assessment, the claim status will be updated to “Under Review,” in accordance with standard procedure.
The Ministry of Finance noted that the objective of the arrangement is to enable a rapid and efficient response for citizens and residents affected by hostile acts or war, combining immediate assistance with continued processing במסגרת the statutory compensation mechanisms.
