Chasing the Fionist Dream

Very few of us today stay in one job for our entire career. Most of us have or will end up unemployed at some point. Each of us personally has been there and done that too. There is so much power in knowing your rights. This way, you can stand up for yourself and receive everything that is owed to you.

As we always say in this blog:

Knowledge is power.

If you were let go from your job, you are eligible to claim unemployment benefits immediately. If you quit, you have to wait three months before registering. In the event that you work more than one job and lose one, you still may be eligible, so it’s always worth applying.

These 5 requirements must be met for you to receive unemployment payments:

1. You are a legal resident of Israel.
2. You have worked at least 12 out of the last 18 months.
3. You are between the ages of 20 and 67.
4. You registered at the unemployment office.
5. You were let go from your job OR 3 months have passed since you quit.

Here is how you apply:

1. Register online with the unemployment office
2. Register online to receive unemployment payments from Bituach Leumi.
3. Check in with your former employer after a day or two to make sure they sent a Tofes 100 to Bituach Leumi. (Tofes 100 is a summary of your salary.)
4. Wait to be notified by Bituach Leumi regarding your claim. If your request is denied, they should explain why it was denied and what is missing for it to be approved. Then you can apply again.

How long will you be entitled to unemployment?

The following graph shows how many days you will receive. Weekdays and Fridays are counted as “days”. Shabbat is not.

The screenshot below shows how much you can expect to receive. You can see the full chart here. The amount you get per day is determined by your combined income from the past 6 months divided by 150. You can even run a simulation on this unemployment payment calculator.

It is important to keep in mind that you will likely need to check in at the Unemployment Office (Lishkat Hata’asuka) on a weekly basis. They will help you look for a job. In the event that you travel abroad during your period of unemployment, your payments will be paused, and will continue upon your return.

Unemployment exists to help you stay on your feet. However, it will not last forever, as there is a time limit on how long you will receive it, as shown above. This is why it is important to have an emergency fund of at least 3 to 6 months of living expenses. If you don’t yet have one, make it a priority. Your future self will thank you.

We wish you hatzlacha (success) on your employment journey. May your next job take you onward and upward. Any future boss will be lucky to have you. We believe in you. ❤

Do you have any more questions about unemployment? What rights should we cover next? Make sure to drop us a line and let us know.

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