The National Insurance Institute (NII) pays a Prisoner of Zion benefit to all persons recognized as Prisoners of Zion by the Authority for Prisoners of Zion and Martyrs within the Ministry of Aliyah [immigration] and Integration - provided the Prisoner of Zion's income does not exceed a fixed sum as laid down by regulations.
After ceasing to work, a 74-year-old man filed a claim for Prisoner of Zion benefit with the NII. Failing to receive a response, he contacted the Office of the Ombudsman.
The NII informed the Office that no claim for recognition of the complainant as a Prisoner of Zion was found in the NII's computerized system, nor was he recognized as such by the Authority for Prisoners of Zion and Martyrs. Under these circumstances, it was not possible to pay him the benefit.
The NII asked the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration to check whether the complainant was registered in the Ministry as a Prisoner of Zion. It was found that the complainant had indeed been recognized by the Ministry as a Prisoner of Zion but under his previous name, which he had changed after immigrating to Israel.
Following the investigation, the updated file was forwarded to the NII, which approved a monthly benefit for the complainant and paid him retroactively for the three months during which he had not received payment.