BENEFITS FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS

 

BENEFITS FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS

 

Benefits for Special Populations

The Water and Sewage Regulations (Criteria and List of Persons Eligible for a Reduction in Payment for 2014 Fiscal Year) - 2014 was published in April 2014.  A number of population groups eligible to receive a benefit on the water tariff were added to the regulations.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the significance of the benefit for a person who appears on the list of eligibility?  What exactly will I receive?

The benefit offers double the amount of water for those who appear on the list of eligible persons at the lower rate per month, i.e.:  Each resident is eligible to receive 3.5 cubic meters per month at the low water rate.  Residents who appear on the list of eligible persons receive an additional amount of 3.5 cubic meters per month at the low tariff - and in total - 7 cu.m. per month at the low rate.  This benefit may come to NIS 220 per year.

 

How can I determine whether I am eligible for the benefit?

If you think you may be included in the list of eligible persons and have not receive a letter notifying you of your eligibility, you may contact one of the institutions responsible for determining eligibility, including:  the National Insurance Institute, the Disabled IDF Veterans Department at the Ministry of Defense, the Holocaust Survivors Rights Authority and the Terror Victims Association to determine whether you are included in the list of eligible persons.  Alternatively, you may contact the water supplier in the area of your residence, give them your I.D. number and ask whether you appear on the list.

 

I did not receive a letter regarding my eligibility; I contacted the water supplier and was told that I do not appear on the list of those eligible.  According to the criteria, I should appear on the list, what should I do? 

You must contact the institution to which you are affiliated and clarify why you are not included in the list of people eligible for the benefit:

 I checked the criteria for eligibility and it appears that I belong to the eligible population groups.  Why don’t I appear on the list?

You must contact the institution to which you are affiliated and clarify why you are not included in the list of people eligible for the benefit:

I received a letter notifying me that I or a member of my family is eligible for the benefit?  What should I do?

You must contact the water supplier in your town to receive the benefit at the address of your residence to receive the recognized amount.
 

I or one of my family members belongs to the list of eligible persons that were added in 2014.  Why haven’t I received a letter and the benefit? 

In accordance with the regulations that were published, the institutions responsible for the benefit are obligated to notify every new eligible person regarding his eligibility; and subsequently, they must send the list of eligible persons in a secured fashion to the Water Authority.  In any event, eligibility for the benefit is retroactive and begins from the date set down for the beginning of the eligibility and in accordance with the regulations and includes a retroactive calculation of the water bills and a refund for the surplus payment by the water suppliers.

From which date can I receive the benefit?

An eligible person receives the benefit based on one of the following cases:

  1. The date that he the benefit was issued for him.

     Or

  1. Starting from 1/07/12, for populations that were included in the Finance Committee’s decision of April 2012.

       Or

  1. From the beginning of the year and/or date of commencement of the eligibility that was issued by the responsible institutions (the later of the two) for new eligible persons added this year.

I am a person with a disability who was not included in the list of eligible persons; however, National Insurance/ the Ministry of Defense/ The Holocaust Survivors Rights Authority have promised me that I will be added to the list of eligible persons in the future.  When will I receive the benefit?

The list of eligible persons is updated once a month.  At the time it is updated, you can inquire if you were included on the list.  Subsequently, you will receive the retroactive benefit from the day your eligibility was issued, but no earlier than the date issued for the fiscal year, according to the regulations.

I represent an eligible person who is not fit to make decisions.  Is it possible for me to represent the eligible person and act in his name?

If you possess power of attorney or guardianship documents, you may contact the water supplier and ask for the benefit and to take steps for the benefit of the eligible person whom you represent.

 I am an eligible person registered in the list of eligible persons and registered in city A at a particular address.  I wish to receive the benefit at another address in the same city.  Is this possible?

An eligible person can receive the benefit on condition that he/she receives the recognized amount at his/her place of residence, even if he/she is living at a different address.  Every consumer can choose where to receive the recognized amount and the benefit, provided that he/she or a power of attorney completes and signs a form requesting a transfer as detailed in the notice from the Director General on the Water Authority website.

I am eligible to receive a benefit in in city A at an address at which I no longer live; and therefore, I wish to receive my benefit in city B.  What should I do?

You are eligible to receive the benefit at the place that you receive the recognized amount of water at the low tariff.  For this purpose, please contact the water supplier in the target city (City B) and ask to receive your benefit.  After you complete and sign the Request to Transfer the Benefit for Special Populations from Consumer to Consumer Form, the water supplier in City B will ask the water supplier in City A for authorization to remove the eligible person from its list.  Only then will the transfer of the benefit be possible.  The rationale is that the benefit will be received at only one address.

I am an eligible person who lives in an institution.  How do I receive the benefit?

  • If the institution receives the recognized amount in your name, i.e., the institution is listed as your permanent place of residence, then the institution can also receive the benefit in your name, provided that you complete and sign the Request to Transfer the Benefit for Special Populations from Consumer to Consumer Form.
  • In the event that the institution does not receive the recognized amount, i.e. is not listed as your permanent place of residence, the institutions will not be granted the benefit in your name, and it will not be transferred.  The benefit will be given at the address which appears in the water supplier’s records.

I am an eligible for the benefit and have received a water bill.  Where does my benefit appear on my bill? 

On the periodic water bill, the benefit amount for special populations appears on the list of quantities and tariffs on the periodic bill and the total utilization of the benefit.

I am an eligible person and have received a benefit; however less than 3.5 cubic meters per month.  Why?

The benefit given is for the actual consumption that is beyond the recognized amount for the family that is calculated based on the total number of registered family members multiplied by 7 cubic meters for two months.  The benefit is given from the day the benefit applies and relative to the total number of days of the periodic bill.  A separate line appears on the bill that clarifies how much water was billed at the reduced rate as part of the benefit.

Is it possible that although I am eligible, the benefit amount does not appear on the water bill?

If the consumption of those living in the residential unit is less than the total recognized amount for the persons in that residential unit, then the benefit amount will not appear on the water bill.

Why does is the list of eligible persons not published publically?

The information on the eligible persons list is confidential and subject to the Privacy Protection Law.  The information is not disclosed to the public, only to those parties who are authorized.

Why can’t I inquire by telephone call whether I appear on the list of eligible persons (based on my I.D. number)?

This is confidential information subject to the Privacy Protection Law.  Information cannot be received without the certain identification of the person.  You must visit one of the water suppliers to identify yourself and determine your eligibility.

Can I receive the ‘regular’ recognized amount at one address and the benefit at another?

The benefit is granted at your (the eligible person’s) place of residence, which has been reported and registered.  The purpose of the benefit is to enable you to consume an additional quantity of water at a lower tariff.  There is no possibility of separating the address for which you receive the benefit and the address where you receive your ‘regular’ recognized amount.

Examples - Illustrating the significance of the benefit (for a 2-month bill)

  1. In a case in which 2 consumers live in one house and one of them is eligible for the benefit, the eligible person will receive the recognized amount of 14 cubic meters for two months instead of 7 cubic meters for two months.  In total, the tenants will receive 21 cubic meters at the low tariff for two months.
  2. In a case in which 3 consumers live in one house and one of them is eligible for the benefit, the eligible person will receive the recognized amount of 14 cubic meters for two months instead of 7 cubic meters for two months.  In total, the tenants will receive 28 cubic meters at the low tariff for two months.
  3. In a case in which 4 consumers live in one house and two of them are eligible for the benefit, each of the eligible persons will receive the recognized amount of 14 cubic meters for two months instead of 7 cubic meters for two months.  In total, the tenants will receive 42 cubic meters at the low tariff for two months.

Any amount that exceeds the recognized amount will be charged at the high rate.