The Knesset has approved a measure to cut child payments, leaving many parents facing a cut to their monthly budgets.
The vote caused a storm in the Knesset hall as hareidi-religious and Arab MKs protested loudly against the cut. “This is a disgrace, you are cruel,” they shouted. “You are big when it comes to fighting children.”
Following the changes, parents will receive 140 shekels per month for each child under the age of 18 born after June 1, 2003.
Families will receive the same amount for first and second children born before that date. However, parents will continue to receive higher amounts for subsequent children with earlier dates of birth: 172.2 shekels per month for third children born before June 1, 2003, down from 295 a month, and 336 shekels per month for fourth children – down from 459.
For children who are fifth or more in their family who were born before June 1, 2003, parents will receive 354.2 shekels per month, in place of 389.
Another proposed change would mean that child payments are not altered in 2014, but only in 2015 or later. A third proposed change would set an income limit on child payments for the first time by making any parent earning more than 800,000 shekels a year ineligible for the benefit.