Survivors' income has doubled, but one third still not getting aid

Monthly income of Holocaust survivors has almost doubled in recent months, with the implementation of the government's decision to increase stipends. But initiatives aimed at receiving funds from other governments and bodies continue to languish.

Some 7,500 letters were sent in February to Holocaust survivors who have not received compensation from either Israel or Germany, in compliance with a decision approved by the government in November.

Letters contained forms with questions intended to ascertain whether survivors have received funds from sources other than the Israeli government. To date, half of the addressees have responded, of which 2,000 were awarded monthly stipends worth NIS 1,000 retroactive from October.

In addition to the monthly stipend of NIS 1,000, recipients are given vouchers worth NIS 2,400 a year that can be used to pay for health services. Elderly people who do not own a home, 90 percent of whom are Holocaust survivors, have received an increase of NIS 270 a month in rent support.

Survivors past the age of 80 who do not own a home and have no other income will receive an increase in their stipends from NIS 2,242 to NIS 4,220. Survivors who own homes but lack other sources of income will receive NIS 3,800. Sums allocated to both groups are expected to rise over the next few years.

About 6,500 survivors whose incomes are particularly low and receive government supplements will also be entitled to a yearly grant of NIS 4,000.

The government has also increased its funding of The Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel tenfold to NIS 100 million. It is money aimed at covering or subsidizing medical equipment and dental care. So far, some 5,000 survivors have asked for medical aide worth NIS 25 million.

Respondents to the letter who have received compensation from other governments are not entitled to the NIS 1,000 monthly stipends. In light of the few responses, newspapers ads have been taken out calling on those who consider themselves entitled to the funds to contact the treasury. Some 800 people have responded to the ads.

Over the next few weeks, about 1,000 volunteers working on behalf of the Jewish Agency and the National Council for Volunteering will visit the homes of addressees who have not responded to the letters. Apparently, the number of needy survivors who have not received compensation is lower than the estimate of 7,500.

Meanwhile, debate has begun over what to do with the remainder of funds allocated to survivors, which totaled NIS 150 million in 2008 and NIS 120 million in 2009.

One of the initiatives still lagging is the government's decision to open a center to deal with giving advice to survivors on their rights. The center, which is to be jointly run by the Welfare Ministry, the Ministry of Pensioners Affairs and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany, is still in the early stages of planning.

According to estimates, about a third of the 260,000 survivors are not receiving funds they are entitled to because of the abundance of separate institutions. Volunteers stationed at hospitals will assist survivors to fill in forms regarding their rights and helping them contact the appropriate authorities.