Parkinson's disease is a severe chronic disease that usually affects people 40 years old and later, and its prevalence increases with age. Those affected by the disease suffer from gradual degeneration of the nervous system, and as a result, their ability to move and their physical, mental and mental functioning deteriorate over time. Unfortunately, at some point, Parkinson's patients may lose their ability to function independently.

In view of the many difficulties faced by Parkinson's patients and their relatives, these patients are entitled to a number of benefits from the state. Also, they may be entitled to insurance benefits, including long-term care insurance from private insurance companies.

Through the current overview, you will be able to make a preliminary acquaintance with the main rights of Parkinson's patients in Israel. For more detailed information, it is recommended to download the professional rights guide for Parkinson's patients compiled by the lawyer Raphael Almog, voluntarily, with the aim of helping Parkinson's patients and their families.

General disability allowance

The National Insurance Institute grants a monthly general disability allowance to those who have reached the age of 18 and up to retirement age (women-62, men-67) and have lost their earning capacity as a result of physical or mental health impairment.

A condition for receiving entitlement to an allowance is that the income from work of the applicant for the allowance does not exceed 60% of the average monthly salary in the economy (6.331 NIS gross, as of January 2021).

If the income is lower than this amount, and the ability to work is impaired due to the impairment, it is advisable to file a claim for general disability.

The path of a Parkinson's contender to the eligibility for a general disability pension depends on the existence of two tracks:

1. Route for determining the degree of medical disability of the insured
2. Route for determining the degree of the insured's inability to earn a living

In the first step, medical percentages will be determined, and according to the medical percentages that will be determined, the effect of the impairment on the ability to work will be examined. The amount of the allowance is determined according to the effect of the impairment on the applicant's ability to go out and earn a living or to function in the household.

Eligibility for disability allowance can be in the following rates (as of January 2021):

• Eligibility at the rate of 60% - an amount of NIS 1,908
• Eligibility at the rate of 65% - an amount of NIS 2,027
• Eligibility at the rate of 74% - an amount of NIS 2,242
• Eligibility at the rate of 100% - an amount of NIS 3,321

In addition, a supplement is paid for spouses and children according to income tests.

Parkinson's patients are also entitled to a general disability allowance, as long as they meet a number of cumulative general conditions. First, the pension applicant will have to prove to the National Insurance that he suffers from a medical disability of at least 60%, or alternatively that he has been determined to have a medical disability of at least 40%, but for one or more of his medical deficiencies a disability of 25% or more has been determined.

Later, the patient will be required to prove that he has lost 50% or more of his earning capacity. In addition to that, we remind you that eligibility for an allowance depends on the level of income.

In order to receive the disability pension, a claim must be submitted to the National Insurance and later be examined by a medical committee on behalf of the institution. Establishing eligibility for a pension is not a simple procedure, and unfortunately, there are Parkinson's patients who find it difficult to qualify for a pension, despite their difficult condition.

Mobility allowance

A mobility benefit is granted to those whose mobility is impaired and originates from a mobility agreement signed many years ago between the Ministry of Finance and National Insurance. Parkinson's patients who have suffered significant damage to their lower limbs will be entitled to this benefit.

The mobility allowance does not replace the general disability allowance and eligibility for this allowance does not depend on eligibility for a disability allowance (unlike the special services allowance, which may affect the mobility allowance).

Eligibility conditions:

1. The medical committee determined at least 40% disability in mobility, if the applicant has a valid driver's license, or 60% disability in mobility - if the applicant does not have a valid driver's license and the applicant has a driving license.
2. There is a vehicle in the possession and ownership of the applicant ("owned" - even if the vehicle is registered in the name of the applicant's spouse and/or guardian)

Mobility allowance amounts (The amount of allowances is correct for January 2021)

1. Mobility allowance for a car owner: ranges from NIS 342 to NIS 8,128. The amount is determined according to the percentage of disability, the determining vehicle, the accessories, the amount of your income and the distance from your home to your place of work.
2. Car-free allowance: The amount of the allowance is NIS 2,364.

The benefits of mobility:

1. A standing loan for the purchase of a vehicle A standing loan is given to a person with limited mobility who purchases a new vehicle, for the purpose of fully or partially financing the taxes applicable to the vehicle that determines it - a private vehicle, a commercial vehicle, or a vehicle for special accessories, the vehicle is determined in accordance with the provisions of the mobility agreement or according to the decision of the medical institute for road safety. *For more information about a standing loan, you can read on the National Insurance website
2. A loan from a loan fund for the severely disabled In addition to a standing loan to finance the taxes, the severely disabled may be entitled to a loan from a loan fund designed to finance the price of the vehicle in addition to the taxes. For more information about the loan fund, you can read on the National Insurance website.
3. Car accessories (in addition to car purchase loans) you can get:

• • Reimbursement of expenses for accessories in a private vehicle (only for those with a driver's license).
  • Loan for the purchase and installation of a lifting device/robot for storing the wheelchair in the car.
  • Loan for the purchase and installation of car accessories for special accessories.

Special services allowance - Sharm

In some cases, Parkinson's patients will be entitled to a special services benefit for the disabled from the National Insurance, designed to help patients finance external treatment services. This benefit is relevant to patients who have reached a nursing condition and need daily help for basic functioning or constant supervision to prevent danger to themselves and others.

The benefit is expressed in a monthly allowance, the amount of which depends on the severity of the contestant's condition. Patients who are completely dependent on another person around the clock may receive an allowance of over NIS 5,000 per month.

Parkinson's patients may receive a special services benefit in addition to a mobility benefit, but only in the case where the patient has been determined to have a mobility disability of 100%, or it is found that he needs a wheelchair or is confined to a bed. In other cases, it will not be possible to receive both benefits at the same time.

To determine whether the patient is entitled to benefits and what the amount will be, the National Insurance Institute examines the patient's degree of dependence on others in order to perform a number of daily activities, including: bathing, eating, dressing and maintaining personal hygiene. It was also checked how much the patient needed help with household care.

However, the National Insurance dependency test is not the only test that must be met. Entitlement to benefits depends, among other things, on the rate of medical disability determined for the patient, on other allowances he receives and on his monthly income. In our rights guide you can read about the full conditions for receiving the benefit.

Sharm allowance rates and amounts

The rate of the allowance derives from the extent of the impairment's impact on the applicant's need for help in day-to-day life. Eligibility for a special services allowance can be in the following rates (as of January 2021):

• Eligibility at the rate - 50% amount of NIS 1,427
• Eligibility at the rate - 112% amount of NIS 3,334
• Eligibility at the rate - 188% amount of NIS 5,341

Addition for a ventilated disabled person - NIS 1,850

A condition for checking eligibility for a special services allowance is that the income from work of the allowance applicant does not exceed 5 times the average salary in the economy (NIS 52,755 gross, as of January 2021).

If the applicant does not receive a disability allowance and his income does not exceed 5 times the average salary, the applicant may be examined for special services if he is determined to be 75% medically disabled.

Exemption from income tax

In some cases, a Parkinson's patient may benefit fromExemption from income tax payments.

In order to qualify for an exemption, the patient is required to show that he suffers from a weighted disability of at least 90%, due to a multitude of diseases, or at a rate of 100% due to only one disease. It is also required to show that the disability is for a period of at least 184 days (six months).

It is important to know, however, that the medical disability test used by the tax authorities for the purpose of granting the tax benefit is not the same as the medical disability test used by the National Insurance in the general disability branch.

Nursing insurance benefits

Parkinson's patients who purchased long-term care insurance from a private insurance company, whether independently or through the workplace or some other organization (group long-term care insurance), may be entitled to long-term care insurance benefits.

The rate of rewards and the eligibility period vary from policy to policy, but generally, the eligibility conditions in the various policies available in the market are similar. The main test for eligibility is the ADL test (or the "activities of daily living" test), which refers to the level of independent functioning of the insured.

The eligibility conditions for payment, according to the insurance supervision conditions, include two alternative routes.

In the first route, an insured will be defined as nursing, if the insured has lost at least 50 percent of his independent functioning capacity in three or more of the six daily activities, which include: 1. Bathing 2. Eating and drinking 3. Getting up and lying down 4. Dressing and undressing 5. Mobility 6. Control of braces .

Another track concerns the "mentally exhausted", that is, those whose cognitive function is impaired as a result of diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and therefore need a significant degree of accompaniment and supervision. Such patients will also be considered nursing for the purpose of receiving the insurance benefits.

Both routes together may be relevant to Parkinson's patients, but insurance companies do not always respond easily to long-term care insurance claims.

Professional advice and support

In the bottom line, Parkinson's patients have a variety of options for receiving assistance that may be expressed in considerable amounts of money every month.

A paid consultant is not always necessary. Sometimes it's a simple procedure that you can do yourself, like filling out a simple form. Experience shows that new patients tend to hire a consultant in the first stages, and later manage on their own. If you still decide to take a paid consultant, you will meet with several consultants and get price quotes from them, ask for names of recommenders and negotiate with the consultants. The price is not low: between 15% and 25% of the money received in most cases, plus 16% VAT.