Calculate your Israeli unemployment benefit (Dmei Avtalah) for 2025. 50 percent of average daily wage, paid for 125 to 250 days depending on age. NII ceiling applies. Source: btl.gov.il.
Enter your daily wage and age to estimate your Israeli unemployment benefit (Dmei Avtalah) rate and total entitlement for 2025.
Daily unemployment benefit
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How Israeli unemployment benefit (Dmei Avtalah) is calculated
The Bituach Leumi (NII) calculates Dmei Avtalah at 50% of the claimant’s average daily gross wage earned in the three months before unemployment. The daily wage figure is capped at the NII ceiling (approximately 1,482 ILS per day in 2025, derived from the 540,900 ILS annual ceiling divided by 365). This means that employees earning above the ceiling receive a benefit based on the capped daily wage, not their actual higher wage. The resulting daily benefit is then paid for each working day of registered unemployment, up to the duration limit for the claimant’s age group.
Age-based duration tiers
The Israeli legislature set three age tiers for the maximum duration of unemployment benefit. Claimants under 35 years old may receive benefit for up to 125 working days. Those aged 35 to 44 receive up to 175 days, reflecting the greater difficulty older workers face re-entering the labor market. Claimants aged 45 and over receive up to 250 days, providing a longer safety net for workers who may face structural barriers to reemployment. In all cases, benefit stops as soon as the claimant starts work, starts a business, or leaves the NII registration system for any reason.
Registration requirements and practical steps
To receive Dmei Avtalah, a dismissed employee must register as unemployed at a Lishkat HaTaasuka (Employment Service Bureau) within 30 days of leaving their previous job. Late registration shortens the benefit period by one day for each day of delay beyond the 30-day window. The claimant must also file the claim form with Bituach Leumi and provide documentation of prior employment. After registration, the claimant must attend the Employment Service periodically and accept reasonable job offers. Refusing a suitable job offer can result in suspension of benefit. This calculator is an estimate only and does not replace the official Bituach Leumi determination.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for unemployment benefit (Dmei Avtalah) in Israel?
To qualify for Dmei Avtalah, a person must have been an employee (not self-employed) and must have worked and paid Bituach Leumi contributions for at least 12 of the 18 months before becoming unemployed (or 6 of the 18 months if the claimant is under 28 and this is their first claim). The person must have been dismissed or reached the end of a fixed-term contract. Employees who resign voluntarily generally do not qualify. Claimants must register with the Employment Service (Lishkat HaTaasuka), actively seek work, and be available for work. Unemployment benefit is not paid during periods of illness, maternity leave, or strike.
How much is the Israeli unemployment benefit?
The daily unemployment benefit is 50 percent of the claimant’s average daily wage in the three months before they became unemployed. The daily wage used for this calculation is capped at the NII ceiling wage divided by 365 days. In 2025, the NII annual ceiling is approximately 540,900 ILS, giving a maximum daily wage cap of around 1,482 ILS per day. At 50 percent of the cap, the maximum daily benefit is approximately 741 ILS. There is also a minimum daily benefit floor set by the NII, ensuring that very low earners still receive a meaningful payment. Benefit is paid for each weekday of unemployment.
How long can you claim unemployment benefit in Israel?
The duration of unemployment benefit depends on the claimant age at the time of becoming unemployed. Claimants under 35 years old are entitled to a maximum of 125 payment days. Claimants aged 35 to 44 are entitled to a maximum of 175 payment days. Claimants aged 45 and over are entitled to a maximum of 250 payment days. These are the maximum periods, and payment stops sooner if the claimant finds employment, starts a business, or leaves the country. The benefit is paid for working days only, not Saturdays (Shabbat) or Jewish public holidays.
Is Israeli unemployment benefit taxable?
Yes, unemployment benefit (Dmei Avtalah) is treated as taxable income in Israel. Bituach Leumi deducts income tax at source from the benefit payments. The claimant can submit a tax exemption declaration (Tofes 101) to the NII to ensure that tax credit points are applied correctly and that the withholding rate reflects their expected annual income. Because unemployment benefit typically replaces only part of prior salary, the effective income tax rate during the unemployment period is usually lower than during employment. Claimants should reconcile their annual income tax return to capture any overpayment of withholding during the unemployment period.