ABSTRACT
Israel's Income Support Law was implemented in 1982, thus completing a lengthy legislative process during which, throughout the 1970s, economically vulnerable populations were identified and the minimum requirements for subsistence determined. During these years, a number of important programmes were introduced: (i) Unemployment Insurance, (ii) General Disability, which provided a basic flat-rate benefit for the disabled who had lost or significantly reduced their capacity to work as well as those born disabled; and (iii) a comprehensive programme of child allowances. All of these were aimed at guaranteeing a basic minimum income for these groups, under Israel's social security system.
