Sal Klita Amounts 2026: Exactly What New Olim Receive (Month by Month)

Updated July 2026. Sal klita — the “absorption basket” — is the first cash new olim receive from the State of Israel, and it’s often the most misunderstood benefit in the whole aliyah process. Here’s exactly what it is, how much it’s worth in 2026, and how it’s actually paid out, based on currently published 2026 figures.

What Is Sal Klita?

Sal klita is a one-time, non-income-tested cash grant the Israeli government pays to new olim to cover living expenses during roughly their first six months in the country. It is not a loan, is not taxed as income, and is paid regardless of whether you’re employed, making it the financial floor most new immigrants build their early budget around.

How Much Is Sal Klita in 2026?

Total 2026 sal klita amounts run from roughly ₪20,491 for a single working-age oleh up to roughly ₪61,000 for a family of four with two children, with couples receiving approximately ₪39,065. These are published totals for the full six-month payment period, not monthly figures — see the table below for the breakdown by household type.

Hedge: Sal klita amounts are updated periodically by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and can shift year to year with cost-of-living adjustments. Pre-retirement and retirement-age olim receive different (generally higher) amounts than working-age olim. For your household’s exact figure, always cross-check the official Nefesh B’Nefesh Sal Klita Calculator or Misrad HaKlita before budgeting.

How Is Sal Klita Paid?

Sal klita arrives in two stages: a small cash (or prepaid card) payment given at the airport on arrival, followed by six monthly deposits into an Israeli bank account. You cannot receive the monthly portion until you’ve opened an Israeli bank account, which is one of the first practical tasks every new oleh should complete.

The exact split across the six monthly deposits is not perfectly even in every case — Misrad HaKlita’s calculator applies its own internal formula — so treat the table above as illustrative of the timing, not a precise monthly promise. What’s consistent is the structure: one airport payment, then six consecutive monthly transfers, all requiring an active Israeli bank account.

What Can Reduce or Extend Your Sal Klita?

Leaving Israel for an extended period during your first six months can pause or reduce your sal klita payments, and having lived in Israel for more than 24 months in the three years before making aliyah can affect eligibility altogether. Payments generally resume if you return within the program’s window, but gaps are not automatically backfilled.

On the extension side, olim who move onto income support (dmei kiyum) after their sal klita ends may qualify for continued benefits, including extended health coverage — but this typically has to be requested proactively rather than happening automatically. If your circumstances are unusual (military service, student status, prior visits to Israel), confirm your specific eligibility with Misrad HaKlita rather than assuming the standard schedule applies.

What’s Not Included in Sal Klita?

Sal klita is only one piece of the absorption package — ulpan, rental assistance, arnona discounts, and temporary health coverage are separate benefits with their own rules and timelines, and none of them are included in the sal klita totals above.

• Ulpan (Hebrew classes): A standard full-time ulpan course runs about five months, generally accessible up to 18 months after aliyah — funded separately from sal klita.
• Rental assistance: Roughly ₪223–₪402 per month depending on family status, starting from month 8 after aliyah (not from arrival) and continuing on a declining scale for up to five years.
• Arnona (municipal tax) discount: A 50%–90% discount on property tax for up to 100 sq. m of housing, applied for one 12-month period within your first two years — the exact percentage is set by your local municipality.
• Health coverage: Up to six months of free basic Kupat Cholim coverage through Bituach Leumi if you’re not working, with a possible additional six months if you move onto income support afterward.

Because these benefits run on different clocks — some starting at arrival, others at month 8 — it’s worth mapping your full first year of income and support against your expected costs rather than relying on sal klita alone. Our cost of aliyah guide walks through what a realistic first-year budget looks like once sal klita, rental assistance, and your own income are combined.

FAQ

Who is eligible for sal klita?

New olim making aliyah under the Law of Return are generally eligible, provided they haven’t lived in Israel for more than 24 months in the three years before their aliyah date. Some categories, including certain returning residents, have different or reduced eligibility — check your specific status with Misrad HaKlita.

Is sal klita taxed?

No. Sal klita is a non-taxable government grant, not income, and it is not means-tested — your employment status or outside income does not reduce the amount you’re entitled to receive.

Do I need an Israeli bank account to receive sal klita?

Yes. While the first airport payment may come as cash or a prepaid card, the remaining six monthly deposits are transferred directly into an Israeli bank account, so opening one is an early priority — ideally within your first days in the country.

Does sal klita cover a full year of expenses?

No — sal klita is disbursed over roughly six months, not twelve. It’s designed to bridge your initial settling-in period, not to fully fund a full first year; most olim need to budget for employment income, savings, or other benefits like rental assistance to cover months beyond the sal klita period.

What happens to sal klita if I leave Israel temporarily?

Extended time abroad during your sal klita period can pause your payments, and they generally resume upon your return, though gaps aren’t automatically made up. Short trips are typically not an issue, but there’s no universal cutoff published — confirm with Misrad HaKlita before extended travel during your first six months.