# Israeli Lone Soldier Rights

> >-

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-skills-il-government-services-israeli-lone-soldier-rights`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [skills-il](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/skills-il)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [skills-il](https://github.com/skills-il)
- **Source:** https://github.com/skills-il/government-services/tree/master/israeli-lone-soldier-rights

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-skills-il-government-services-israeli-lone-soldier-rights
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Israeli Lone Soldier Rights

## Problem

A lone soldier (chayal boded), an oleh without family in Israel, or an Israeli whose parents are abroad / deceased / formally estranged, is entitled to a substantial supplemental benefits package on top of regular service compensation: a monthly grant equal to 100% of a private's base salary, rent + utility assistance during service, free flights home, and up to ₪12,000 of rent assistance in the first year after discharge. But the rules live in IDF Chief of Staff Order 35.0808 (which is not user-facing), the hachvana.mod.gov.il extra-benefits page, kolzchut, plus diaspora-org programs from Nefesh B'Nefesh, FIDF, Garin Tzabar, and the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin. Many lone soldiers (and their parents abroad) don't realize they need formal Aka recognition before any of this kicks in, miss the post-discharge rent application within the 12-month window, or assume one benefit replaces another when in fact they stack. This skill maps the recognition flow, the active-duty benefits, the post-discharge supplements (which are distinct from the regular discharged-soldier package), and the diaspora-org routing.

## Instructions

### Step 1: Who Qualifies as a Lone Soldier (Chayal Boded)

> Source quote (kolzchut): "חייל בודד הוא חייל בשירות חובה שאין לו בארץ תמיכה הורית במהלך שירותו הצבאי"

Three recognized categories:

| Category | Definition |
|---|---|
| Oleh chadash without family in Israel | Immigrated under Chok HaShvut, parents/immediate family remain abroad |
| Israeli with parents abroad or deceased | Both parents passed away OR both formally living abroad |
| Israeli formally estranged from parents | Documented breakdown of parent-child relationship, requires social worker assessment |

The governing IDF order is **Pkudat Matkal 35.0808** ("חיילים בודדים, עקרונות, זכויות ונהלים, שירות חובה"). Published in multiple languages on the IDF website.

### Step 2: Recognition Process

> Source quote (kolzchut): "כדי להיות מוכר כחייל בודד, יש להגיש בקשה ללשכת הגיוס האזורית"

**The soldier-facing form is Form 62** (שאלון הכרה לחייל בודד, submitted in duplicate). It is the same form in BOTH pre-enlistment and during-service phases. Form 7304 is an internal routing/intake document that the Rakezet Tash (Tash desk coordinator) fills on behalf of the candidate AFTER status is raised at the Lishkat HaGiyus interview, soldiers should not ask for "Form 7304" at the counter; ask for the **שאלון הכרה לחייל בודד (Form 62)**.

| Phase | What to do | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-enlistment (gibush / Lishkat HaGiyus interview) | Raise lone-soldier status verbally with the MLSh"B at the initial interview; Rakezet Tash initiates Form 7304 internally; soldier also fills Form 62 | Regional recruitment office (lishkat hagiyus haezorit) |
| Already in service | Submit Form 62 (in duplicate) | Unit officer or Mashak Tash |

| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1 | Submit the appropriate form per above |
| 2 | Required documents depend on track: oleh = Teudat Oleh + family documentation showing parents abroad; estranged Israeli = social worker assessment; orphan = parental death certificates |
| 3 | Decision by recognition committee, typically within ~1 month, response via Mashak Tash |
| 4 | If rejected: appeal back through Mashak Tash; the appeals committee decision is final unless circumstances change materially |
| 5 | Hotlines for help: IDF **1111**, Soldiers' Ombudsman **03-6977374**, NBN+FIDF 24/7 lone-soldier hotline |

**Recognition triggers everything.** No benefit on the list below applies until the soldier is officially recognized. Without recognition, even an oleh living alone in Israel gets only the standard private's salary.

### Step 3: Active-Duty Monthly Grant

> Source quote (kolzchut מענק חודשי): "מענק חודשי קבוע, ששיעורו 100% משכר היסוד של טוראי בשירות חובה. המענק החודשי ישולם יחד עם תשלום שכר החובה"

The recognized lone soldier receives a **fixed monthly grant equal to 100% of the base salary of a private (turai) in mandatory service**, paid together with the regular salary payment. This effectively doubles the cash income vs. a non-boded soldier of equivalent rank/service-type, the base salary is paid AS USUAL, and the grant is added on top.

The grant accrues automatically upon recognition, no separate application needed each month. The base monthly boded grant is fixed at 100% of the private's base salary regardless of the soldier's actual rank or service-tier.

**Important: combat and combat-support lone soldiers get an ADDITIONAL boded-specific tier supplement on top of the base monthly grant.** Per Pkudat Matkal 35.0808 + IDF documentation: combat (lochem) lone soldiers receive an additional combat supplement (commonly cited around ~422 NIS/month); combat-support (tomech lechima) lone soldiers receive an additional tomech supplement (commonly cited around ~370 NIS/month). These are boded-only uplifts that STACK on top of the universal combat/tomech salary differentials every soldier already gets. Verify current amounts with Mashak Tash or via the IDF salary table, figures above are reference ranges, not statutory.

### Step 4: Rent + Utility Assistance During Service

> Source quote (kolzchut סיוע בהוצאות דיור): "השתתפות בדמי שכירות והוצאות שונות עבור אחזקת הדירה כגון: מים, גז ועד בית. על החייל להגיש בקשה באמצעות סגל הת\"ש ביחידתו"

A recognized lone soldier renting an apartment in Israel during service is entitled to:

| What's covered | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rent (sechirut) | Participation in the monthly rental cost |
| Maintenance (achzakat dira) | Water, gas, building committee (vaad bayit) |
| Application channel | Mashak Tash of the unit (or the IDF digital welfare system) |
| Required documents | Signed lease (chozeh schirut), bank account, ID |

Note: this is operationally DIFFERENT from the post-discharge rent assistance in Step 6, both exist, neither replaces the other. Active-duty rent help ends on discharge day; post-discharge rent help starts on discharge day and lasts up to 12 months.

### Step 5: Other Active-Duty Benefits

| Benefit | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Free flights home, "מתגעגעים הביתה" | Non-combat lone soldier: typically 1 flight during full service; combat lone soldier: typically 2 flights (in different years). Eligibility timing is case-by-case via Mashak Tash (older "8 months minimum" rule has been replaced post-Iron Swords with coordination through Mashak Tash + Aguda). Orphan-track bodedim are entitled to additional flights. Aguda LeMaan HaChayal + FIDF fund the ticket + airport fees; **medical insurance abroad is the soldier's responsibility** (private travel insurance, kupat cholim chutz la'aretz add-on, or sal klita coverage). Request via Mashak Tash or the `prat.idf.il` personal portal. | Pkudat Matkal 35.0808 Appendix A |
| Marriage grant supplement | A lone soldier who marries during mandatory service is entitled to a special one-time grant ON TOP of the regular IDF marriage grant | Pkudat Matkal 35.0808 |
| Special leave (chufsha meyuchedet) | Up to **60 special-leave days per service year** overall. The **30 days reserved for visiting parents abroad is a ONE-TIME entitlement across the entire mandatory service**, NOT annual, a multi-year boded cannot stack 30 × N years of abroad leave. The first 5 days of each chufsha are deducted from the regular leave bank. | Pkudat Matkal 35.0808 |
| Beit HaChayal lodging | Free lodging on weekends, holidays, and extended weekends across the Aguda LeMaan HaChayal Beit HaChayal chain (multiple branches across Israel). Meals + laundry included. Requires lone-soldier certificate + military ID + leave authorization. See the UFIS directory for current branch list. | Aguda LeMaan HaChayal |
| Food vouchers / holiday vouchers | Monthly food vouchers (Shufersal redeemable, ~150 NIS/month, verify current amount with Mashak Tash) plus periodic holiday vouchers for Rosh Hashanah and Pesach (~250 NIS each). Programs vary slightly year-to-year. | Aguda LeMaan HaChayal + Garin Tzabar |

### Step 6: Post-Discharge, 12-Month Rent Assistance via hachvana

> Source quote (hachvana SingleSolders/Rent): "עד 1,000 ₪ לחודש לתקופה של עד 12 חודשי שכירות. סיוע בשכר דירה בסכום של עד 12,000 ₪ בשנה הראשונה"

This is the single most valuable post-discharge benefit a lone soldier should claim:

| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to 1,000 NIS per month |
| Duration | Up to 12 months of rent |
| Annual cap | 12,000 NIS in the first year post-discharge |
| Payment structure | Two installments: first up to 6,000 NIS covers 6 months; second up to 6,000 NIS submitted within 4 months after the first period ends |
| Where to apply | Personal area at hachvana.mod.gov.il (Extra Benefits > Single Soldiers > Rent) |
| Required documents | Signed lease (chozeh schirut), bank account authorization (harshaat bank), declaration form (hatzharat zechaut) |
| Eligibility | Must have been formally recognized as a lone soldier (per Step 2) during the service period |
| Window | First year (12 months) after end of mandatory service. Late applications past the first year are not eligible. |
| Hotline | hachvana `*5266` |

This is independent of the active-duty rent assistance, the active-duty one stops on discharge day, this one starts on discharge day.

### Step 7: Lone-Soldier Pikadon + Extended 10-Year Window

The Pikadon a lone soldier accrues during service follows the SAME per-month amounts and the SAME 6 permitted purposes as the regular discharged-soldier stack, there is no separate "Pikadon Mugdal" with higher monthly accrual (a common misconception). Lone soldiers get the same per-tier amounts (lochem / tomech lechima / acher / SLE), these are covered in `israeli-discharged-soldier-navigator`.

**Critical: the Pikadon WITHDRAWAL WINDOW for restricted-purpose use is extended from 5 years to 10 years for lone soldiers.** Per Chok Klitat Chayalim Meshuchrarim, §3(ב) extends the entitlements under §7(א) and §7א, the Pikadon withdrawal sections, to a 10-year window for recognized lone soldiers. This means:

| Window | Regular discharged soldier | Lone soldier |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted to 6 permitted purposes | 0-5 years post-discharge | **0-10 years post-discharge** |
| Unrestricted (auto-transfer to bank) | After year 5 | After year 10 |
| Academic counseling, scholarships, mentorship | 5 years | **10 years** |
| Hachvana career programs | 5 years | **10 years** |

> Source quote (momentum4u): "הטבות רבות הניתנות לכל חייל משוחרר עד 5 שנים מיום השחרור, מוענקות לחיילים בודדים משוחררים לתקופה של עד 10 שנים"

> Source: Chok Klitat Chayalim Meshuchrarim §3(ב), via nevo.co.il

The 6 permitted pre-window purposes (same as regular):

| # | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 1 | Academic studies |
| 2 | Professional / vocational training |
| 3 | Marriage |
| 4 | Starting a business |
| 5 | Driving lessons |
| 6 | Apartment purchase (NOT rental) |

For the full Pikadon mechanics (per-tier amounts, tax exemption Section 9(27), withdrawal flow), route the user to `israeli-discharged-soldier-navigator`. This skill ONLY documents the lone-soldier-specific layer: the doubled withdrawal window.

The 6 permitted pre-5-year withdrawal purposes are the same:

| # | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 1 | Academic studies |
| 2 | Professional / vocational training |
| 3 | Marriage |
| 4 | Starting a business |
| 5 | Driving lessons |
| 6 | Apartment purchase (NOT rental) |

For the full Pikadon mechanics (amounts, tax exemption Section 9(27), withdrawal flow, 5-year auto-transfer), route the user to `israeli-discharged-soldier-navigator`. This skill ONLY covers the supplemental lone-soldier layer.

### Step 8: Diaspora and Israeli NGO Support

These organizations operate independently of the IDF / MoD and provide social, financial, and logistical support:

| Organization | What they offer |
|---|---|
| **Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN) + FIDF** | Joint Lone Soldier Program: pre-aliyah and pre-enlistment guidance for olim, financial grants, ongoing support during service, post-discharge transition help. Operates from both Israel and North America. |
| **Friends of the IDF (FIDF)** | Direct financial grants and welfare support to lone soldiers; equipment, vacations, family-visit-to-Israel programs |
| **Garin Tzabar** | Aliyah-and-IDF preparation program from the Israeli Scouts (Tzofim). Places groups of olim on kibbutzim for pre-army adaptation; alumni support continues post-discharge |
| **Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin** | Community center providing social events, holiday hosting, emergency assistance, post-discharge programs. Site: lonesoldiercenter.com |
| **Mahal program** | Specifically for non-Israeli Jews who serve in the IDF without making aliyah, different track from boded oleh. Service length varies (commonly cited as approximately 18 months minimum, verify current rules with Mahal program coordinators) |

When to route to NGOs: any lone soldier (especially olim) should be aware of these, they fill gaps the IDF/MoD don't cover (e.g., furnished apartments for olim, holiday family-hosting, post-discharge career mentorship).

### Step 8.5: Operational Gotchas, Pre-Discharge Interview, Arnona, Electricity, Bank Account

These items are missing from many lone-soldier checklists but materially affect benefit claims:

| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| **Pre-discharge HKK interview** | Every recognized lone soldier should attend the dedicated pre-discharge interview (60-90 days before tashlum) with HKK / Mashak Tash. Skipping this interview is the #1 reason bodedim miss the 12-month post-discharge rent window. |
| **Arnona discount (post-discharge)** | Bodedim renting their own apartment can apply for a municipal arnona discount via the local iriya. Discount range varies by municipality. Apply with the lone-soldier recognition certificate. |
| **Electricity discount** | Recognized bodedim are eligible for a Chevrat HaChashmal electricity discount via the Ministry of Energy hanacha track (separate from the active-duty utility coverage paid by Mashak Tash). Continues post-discharge. |
| **Israeli bank account (blocker for olim)** | The monthly grant, rent assistance, and Pikadon withdrawals all pay only to an Israeli bank account in the soldier's name. NBN + FIDF walk olim through bank opening, surface this BEFORE the soldier expects a deposit. |
| **Re-recognition during reserve duty** | A boded who continues to qualify (parents still abroad / deceased) keeps lone-soldier protections during miluim under Pkudat 35.0808 sections that survive discharge. Cross-reference `israeli-miluim-manager`. |
| **Ezrach Karov (designated next-of-kin)** | Estranged-track bodedim can nominate an Israeli adult as a designated next-of-kin / emergency contact for the IDF. Unlocks emergency furlough and hospital visiting rights. |

### Step 9: Citizenship Track for Oleh Lone Soldiers

An oleh under Chok HaShvut (Law of Return, 5710-1950) has the right of return; the citizenship itself is granted under Chok HaEzrachut (Law of Citizenship, 5712-1952). Both statutes apply automatically on aliyah for eligible olim, service in the IDF does NOT alter citizenship status. The Misrad HaKlita absorption package (sal klita) operates in parallel with IDF service:

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need to be a citizen to enlist as a lone soldier? | Olim are typically citizens at enlistment via Chok HaShvut. Non-citizen volunteers go through the Mahal program. |
| Does the sal klita continue during service? | Yes, Misrad HaKlita benefits run on their own timeline; check with NBN for current rules |
| Can I claim discharge / post-discharge benefits if I return abroad? | Most can be claimed in the first 5 years (Pikadon) and 1 year (rent assistance) windows; some require Israeli bank account. Coordinate via NBN. |

For full aliyah / Misrad HaKlita rules, route to `israeli-bituach-leumi` (general benefits) and future aliyah-specific skills. This skill ONLY surfaces the l

…

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [skills-il](https://github.com/skills-il)
- **Source:** [skills-il/government-services](https://github.com/skills-il/government-services)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-skills-il-government-services-israeli-lone-soldier-rights
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/skills-il
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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