Lone Soldier Rights and Information

Read about your rights as a lone soldier in your mother tongue:

  1. A Lone Soldier is defined as one of the following:
  • Lone Soldier From חוץ לארץ: A soldier whose parents live outside of Israel on a permanent basis and the soldier came to Israel without them. 
  • Child Of Parents That Left Israel: Parents emigrated to outside of Israel
  • Child Of Emissaries: Parents left Israel for a minimum period of 6 months
  • Lack Of Family Support: A soldier that is not in contact with his parents and does not have emotional and economic support from his parents. 
  • Orphan: Orphaned from both parents

2. When will the IDF recognize you as a Lone Soldier?

  • During your צו ראשון (first meeting with the IDF), you will sit with a מש”קית ת”ש (social worker) who will ask you about your background. During this meeting you should explain that you need to receive the status of a Lone Soldier due to one of the above reasons.
  • If your parents live in Israel and you request the Lone Soldier status, this process is more lengthy. The IDF may request proof such as bank statements, a visit to your home and even to speak to friends/family that are familiar with your situation.

3. What does the Lone Soldier status give me?

Monetary Benefits:

  • An extra 540₪ to your salary every month.
  • 150₪ added to your חוגר (military ID) every month which can be used in supermarkets for grocery shopping (alcohol and tobacco can not be purchased with this)
  • Gift cards before the holidays of פסח וחנוכה
  • Lone Soldiers are entitled to a discount of up to 105₪ on electric bills
  • Lone Soldiers are not required to pay property tax (ארנונה) during their service and 4 months after their release. In order to receive the exemption, you must go to your local city hall/municipality with your rental contract and military ID.

Housing Benefits:

  • Monthly Rent Stipend
    • Lone Soldiers are entitled to a maximum of 1,315₪ per month in addition to your salary. This money will only be given to those who can prove (with a rental contract) that they are renting a living space.
  • Bet Hachayl/בית החייל
    • These are housing facilities run by the IDF in all of the major cities in Israel (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Kiryat Shmonah, Tiberius, Haifa, Be’er Sheva, Eilat)
      • Those who received the status of Lone Soldier are eligible to live in these houses 3 months before their draft
      • Serving Lone Soldiers are eligible to live in these facilities for free throughout their service. (Beware that rooms are shared with strangers!)
  • Kibbutz/קיבוץ
    • Price: Usually 1,315₪.
    • You can find yourself living on a kibbutz in a variety of ways
      • You can request from the IDF to place you on a kibbutz. You can ask your מש”קית ת”ש for the list of kibbutzim which host Lone Soldiers.
        • Those serving in combat units can be assigned their own rooms.
      • A large number of kibbutzim host Lone Soldiers and can be found privately, without the help of the IDF.
      • Those that draft through Garin Tzabar will be living on a kibbutz before and during their service.
  • “Alach Apartments/דירות אל”ח
    • Free
    • Completely furnished apartments
    • Soldiers living in these apartments receive 400₪ per month for groceries and hygienic products.
    • Lone Soldiers serving in combat roles are entitled to their own rooms within the apartment.

4. Additional rights for Lone Soldiers who made Aliyah:

  • An עולה חדש/ה who drafts as a Lone Soldier within 5 years of making aliyah is entitled to an additional monthly stipend from משרד העלייה והקליטה. The sum of this stipend is determined by the minimum salary that a regular IDF soldier receives.
  • Entitled to a monthly rental assistance stiped from משרד הבינוי והשיכון of 402₪.

5. Days Off/Vacations

  • Weekends Off:
    • Lone Soldiers leaving base on a Friday or ערב חג must be allowed to leave base in order to reach their homes by maximum 12:00! This is to allow Lone Soldiers to take care of all of their errands.
  • Yom Siddurim/יום סידורים: During training, Lone Soldiers are entitled to an “errand day” once a month. After training, you are entitled to a יום סידורים once every other month.
    • You are entitled to a full 24 hours from the moment you walk off base until the moment you’re required to return.
    • A יום סידורים can not be given during a holiday or on a Friday.
  • Meuchedet/מיוחדת: A Lone Soldier is entitled to a holiday outside of Israel once every year of service (not calendar year).
    • Due to Covid-19, you can expect difficulties receiving permission to fly.
    • FIDF will sponsor your flight home one time throughout your service. In order to receive the free flight, your vacation must span a minimum of 21 days.
      • This included a flight to-&-from your home country as well as health insurance for the period of your vacation.
      • A לוחם is eligible to fly after 8 months of service (11 months if you drafted to the Hebrew course in מחווה אלון).
      • Soldiers serving in combat support roles are eligible to fly after a year of service.
      • Soldiers serving in non-combat roles are eligible to fly after either half their service or after 12 months of service – the later option of the 2.
    • The holiday can be a maximum of 30 days.
    • If an immediate family member in חו”ל passes away, the Defense Ministry can organize and pay for your flight back to your home country for the funeral and shiva. In this case, update your commanders and social worker immediately.
  • Vacation Days When Immediate Family Visits In Israel:
    • A Lone Soldier is eligible for a maximum of 8 days off base per year of service.
    • A soldier still in training is eligible for a maximum of 4 days unless otherwise approved by his commanders.
  • Personal/Work Vacation – מיוחדת אישית/עבודה
    • A vacation of up to 45 days may be granted under extreme circumstances such as:
      • Family emergency
      • In debt – time given off to work
      • Other extreme circumstances
    • These vacations must be approved by your commander.
    • The first 5 days of this vacation will count towards ימי חופש – personal vacation days allocated to soldiers each year.
  • Jailed Lone Soldiers
    • If a Lone Soldier finds himself in jail, he is entitled to:
      • One visit per week from your parents if they flew in from חו”ל
      • A one time release of 24 hours outside of the jail

More information on your rights as a Lone Soldier can be found on the IDF Drafting website: https://www.mitgaisim.idf.il/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%95%D7%AA/english/rights-and-obligations/rights-of-lone-soldiers/#/