National Insurance Sets October Benefit Payments Following Knesset Elections
The National Insurance Institute announced that long-term benefits for October 2026 will be paid on October 28, following the Knesset elections. The schedule details monthly allowances, heating grants, and a special earnings exemption for unemployed individuals working during the elections.
As the elections for the 26th Knesset approach, the National Insurance Institute has announced the payment schedule for long-term benefits in October 2026. Long-term benefits will be disbursed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the day after the elections scheduled for Tuesday, October 27. The upcoming disbursement covers a wide range of allowances, including general disability, old-age pensions, survivors' benefits, nursing care, and disabled child grants.
Additional payments included in this round are special services allowances for severely disabled individuals, mobility grants, work injury compensation, alimony, rehabilitation, and grants for prisoners of Zion. This marks a return to the regular monthly payment schedule following adjustments made in September due to the holiday season. Other payments have already been distributed earlier in the month, with unemployment benefits and income support paid on October 12, and child allowances scheduled for October 20.
According to the 2026 benefit rates, a full general disability allowance for an individual stands at 4,711 NIS per month. The basic old-age pension for an individual amounts to 1,838 NIS, which can reach approximately 2,757 NIS with maximum seniority increments. Actual amounts may vary depending on the specific eligibility category and relevant supplements for each recipient.
In parallel with the monthly allowances, October also marks the disbursement of the annual heating grant for eligible senior citizens. The 2026 grant amounts to 664 NIS per household, compared to 649 NIS last year. The grant is designed to assist with heating and electricity expenses ahead of the winter season and is paid once a year to those who meet the established criteria.
The grant is intended for individuals who have reached retirement age and receive an old-age pension, a special old-age benefit, or a survivors' pension, provided they meet specific criteria such as receiving an income supplementation supplement. The grant is transferred automatically to bank accounts for eligible recipients without requiring a separate application.
Furthermore, the National Insurance Institute has issued a special arrangement for unemployment benefit recipients who wish to work during the election period. Beneficiaries may earn up to 19,600 NIS cumulatively between September 12 and November 10, 2026, without affecting their unemployment payments, provided the employment is directly connected to the elections and paid by a candidate, a political party, or the Central Election Committee.
