A widow of a Jerusalem resident wished to actualize her and her orphaned sons’ entitlements to survivors’ pension from the National Insurance Institute (NII). In 1999, the application for family unification, which her husband submitted on her behalf, was approved, but the procedure to grant her Israeli status was cut short following the death of her husband in 2000. In early 2009, the woman received an Israeli stay permit on exceptional humanitarian grounds.
In September 2009, the widow filed a claim for survivors’ pension. The NII clerk demanded she arrive at the NII branch office in East Jerusalem, to supply additional documents. However, under their security regulations, entry to the NII office is forbidden for any person who has no Israeli ID, despite holding a valid Israeli stay permit.
HaMoked appealed on behalf of the widow to the NII, requesting to accept her claim for survivors’ pension, and concurrently addressed the NII in a
general letter, demanding this unacceptable and illegal policy be altered, such that every person who holds a valid Israeli stay permit is allowed to enter the NII offices to settle his affairs.
In November 2009, the claim for survivors' pension for the widow and her sons' was approved, and they now receive a monthly pension of
3,587NIS. In addition, the family retroactively received
44,365 NIS for the preceding period of eligibility.
In May 2010
HaMoked received the response of Mr. Paniel, head of the NII office in East Jerusalem, stating that a new directive was issued
allowing holders of Palestinian ID cards to enter the NII offices to submit claims.
