The first group of needy Holocaust, ghetto and concentration camp survivors, from the first circle, received support payments last Friday morning.  Each received a retroactive payment of NIS 4,000 and will henceforth receive NIS 1,000 monthly, in addition to annual benefits of NIS 6,500.  This group represents some 200 of the neediest, who until now have lived on income supplements and elderly support payments of approximately NIS 2,200 per month.
 
The payment was made with a week of Prime Minister's Office Director-General Ra'anan Dinur's statement that it would be made within two weeks.  The considerable and prompt assistance of the Claims Conference, and the Finance and Justice ministries allowed for the prompt payment.
 
Also, last week NIS 70 million was allocated to the welfare fund which affords Holocaust survivors assistance with unexpected outlays of up to NIS 5,000 per person.
 
PMO Dir.-Gen. Ra'anan Dinur thanked those involved: "I am proud that after decades of inaction we are implementing, step by step, the Government program.  Despite the organizational difficulties, we succeeded in meeting the timetable which we set, and we are doing the utmost to transfer the aid in its entirety."
 
Upon compiling the list, which incorporated diverse data, it became clear that the economic situation of most Holocaust ghetto and concentration camp survivors was different than first described, their income rising above NIS 3,600 per month.
 
It should be emphasized that the "Holocaust refugee" group is covered in the Government program in the framework of costs for income supplements and elderly support payments, while additionally providing hundreds of Shekels to needy elderly who lack housing.  Last week, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resolved the differences between ministers on this issue and the compromise proposal will allow distribution of the draft law shortly.
 
The Government is working to continue the process to provide assistance to others who do not receive income supplements.  The process is more complicated, and requires individual inquiries to each eligible person. The target date to commence these payments is March 2008.