DECEMBER 31, 2015 UPDATE: If you missed the deadline to apply, try calling Mas Hachnasa at *4954 during the first week of January and ask to apply for the ma'anak avodah late "liftoach pniyah l'maanak avodah b'ichur". You may be able to get them to let you apply late.
OCTOBER 6, 2015 UPDATE: The DEADLINE to apply has been extended. The new deadline is December 25, 2015
Don't wait till the last second to take care of this! Just go in to the post office and spend 5 minutes on it!
It's that time of year again - when you can go to the post office and apply for a "Working Families Grant" (formerly called the Negative Income Tax") from the Israeli government, for last year's income. So all of the following information applies to income you earned in 2014.
Who can apply for this grant?
You can apply for this grant if:
1. You were employed or self employed
2. You were 23 years of age or older, with minor children, or 55 years of age or above, without minor children
3. You did not own more than 50% of a property or rights to a property in the 2014 tax year, other than your primary residence
4. If you have one or two children, or are age 55+ without children, and your average monthly income falls between 2,070 and 6,057 you may be eligible for this grant.
5. If you have 3 or more children, and your average monthly income falls between 2,070 NIS and 6,766 NIS, you may be eligible for this grant.
Self-employed individuals and their spouses will only be able to receive this grant IF your formal yearly report is filed no later than May 31, 2015.
Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis from now until September 30, 2015.
How do you apply?
In order to apply, all you have to do is go to the post office and answer a few questions. BE SURE to bring your teudat zehut (ID card) and either your checkbook or an "ishur" from your bank that you have an account with them. Please keep any paperwork you receive at the post office and/or in the mail.
If you have questions after you've applied, or to check the status of your application, you can call *4954 or 1-222-4954 or 02-565-6400 to speak with the Tax Authority.
How much can you expect to receive?
The amount you receive will vary depending on your circumstances, and if you qualify, will vary from 20 shekels/month to 720 shekels/month (240 shekels yearly to 8,640 shekels yearly).
Your spouse's income may affect your eligibility.
I hope this helps some of you out there! It's worth it to check if you are eligible. (If you're not eligible, that's not a bad thing, really. I know some of you complained to me last year that you were not eligible, but that means you are earning more money than the people this program is supposed to help.)
Please share this information with your friends and family who may benefit from it!
I've gotten over ns1,400 the past couple of years. I work part-time minimum wage, so it ends up being like an extra shift a month. They give it in a couple of payments, very handy.
ReplyDeleteI am getting my third payment for 2013 in April. It didn't occur to me to go and apply for 2014 yet so thanks for this. I've done it early once before and you get the money by about May or June.
ReplyDeleteI've already received 2/4 payments for the 2014 tax year. Thanks for this.
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