Old-age pension in Israel (2026): from what age, how much and how to claim

From what age

Men receive the pension from 67. For women the retirement age is rising gradually and depends on the year of birth:

From retirement age until 70 the pension depends on your income. From 70, for men and women alike, it is paid without an income test.

How much

If both partners qualify, each receives a single person's pension. Health insurance is deducted: ₪237 for a single person, ₪340 for a couple, and ₪123 for income supplement recipients.

Increments

• Seniority: 2% for each full year of insurance (12 months, not necessarily consecutive), up to 50%. Fifteen years of insurance mean 30% more.
• Deferral: 5% for each year between retirement age and 70 when the pension was not paid because of work income. It does not apply if the pension was withheld only because of non-work income.
• Partner: ₪924, if your partner meets the conditions and does not receive a pension of their own.
• Children: ₪581 per child, for up to two children.
• Income supplement: for low incomes, bringing the total up to ₪4,375 for a single person and ₪6,912 for a couple.
• Heating grant: ₪664 in October for income supplement recipients.

Income test until age 70

• Work income only: a single person earning up to ₪10,113 gross a month gets the full pension and nothing above ₪14,402. For a couple, full pension up to ₪13,484 and nothing above ₪20,082.
• Between these amounts a partial pension is paid: the allowed amount is subtracted from your earnings, and 60% of the difference comes off the pension. A single person earning ₪11,113 is ₪1,000 over the limit, so the pension drops by ₪600.
• Non-work income only, such as rent or interest: full pension up to ₪30,339 a month for a single person and ₪40,452 for a couple.
• Occupational pensions, Israeli or foreign, do not count in this test.
• If you move to the old-age pension from a disability pension, there is no income test, and the pension will not be lower than your last disability pension.

You can decline a partial pension and later receive a higher one with the deferral increment.

Insurance period

To receive the pension you need one of these insurance periods:

• 60 months of insurance in the 10 years before the qualifying age.
• 144 months of insurance in total.
• At least 60 months, if since you first became an Israeli resident you have more insured months than uninsured ones.

Single, divorced and widowed women who do not receive a survivors' pension, and women who received a general disability pension in the month before, are exempt from the insurance period. A married woman who did not work (a 'homemaker') is entitled from age 70.

People who first immigrated after 62 (men) or retirement age (women) are not covered by old-age insurance, but can receive the special senior citizen benefit.

Transition grant for women born 1960 to 1966

Because the retirement age went up, women born in these years can receive a grant for up to 4 months, from the month they turn 62. Conditions: no work income from 62 to 62 and 4 months, pensions and benefits up to ₪10,120 a month, non-work income up to ₪60,000 in the year you turned 61, and a sufficient insurance period. Apply by age 64.

How to claim

1. A month before retirement age Bituach Leumi posts a claim form with your details. You can also claim in the personal area of the website.
2. Attach income details: employees — an employer letter confirming the work ended or was reduced; self-employed — an income declaration; rent, interest or dividends — a contract or statement.
3. For the partner increment, attach your partner's income details too.
4. Send it online, by post, by fax or through the branch drop box. The pension is paid on the 28th of each month into a bank account in your name.

If you receive a disability pension, income support or unemployment benefit, file for the old-age pension when you reach retirement age. Help: *9696, in English: 02-6463404.

Frequently asked questions

Calculators for this topic

• Old-age pension calculator

  How much old-age pension you will get, with the seniority increment and income supplement.

• Long-term care calculator

  Weekly care hours and cash options for levels 1 to 6, with the income test.

• Retirement age calculator

  Your retirement age and exact date from your date of birth, for women and men.

Worth checking too

• Senior Income Supplement

  An addition to the old-age pension for people with low income. Brings the pension up to ₪4,375 for a single person and ₪6,912 for a couple.

• Survivors' pension

  A monthly pension for the widow, widower and children of an insured person who died. From ₪1,838, plus grants. Claim within 12 months.

• Long-Term Care Benefit

  For people of retirement age who need help bathing, dressing, eating or moving around at home. Care hours or cash, in 6 levels.

• Arnona discount

  Up to 100% for seniors with the income supplement, up to 80% for disability, up to 90% for olim and the blind, and by income. Apply to your local authority.

Sources

• Bituach Leumi: senior citizen pension (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: retirement age (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: pension amounts (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: increments (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: income test (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: insurance period (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: how to claim (Hebrew)
• Bituach Leumi: transition grant for women (Hebrew)