The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday announced that housing assistance for eligible soldiers will be increased from NIS 1,040 ($281) to NIS 1,300 ($351) a month. It is the first increase in 22 years, and will go into effect in March. Those eligible to receive it will be paid retroactively from the beginning of 2017. Most of the soldiers who qualify for housing assistance are lone soldiers whose families live abroad or soldiers estranged from their families. They will have the option of receiving assistance with their rental payments or receiving alternative housing, such as apartments owned by the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers, the Beit Hahayal soldiers' hostel, accommodation on a kibbutz, or "adoption" by families seeking to assist lone soldiers. The increase follows a raise in soldiers' monthly salaries. In December 2015, the government authorized a raise for soldiers doing their mandatory service. Combat soldiers received a raise from NIS 1,077 ($291) to NIS 1,616 ($436) per month. Soldiers in combat support units received a raise from NIS 784 ($211) to NIS 1,176 ($317) per month. Other soldiers received a raise from NIS 540 ($145) to NIS 810 ($218) per month. According to IDF data, one in every five soldiers requires financial aid, with 29,000 soldiers receiving some sort of financial aid and more than 20,000 soldiers permitted to work while on leave. Of 6,700 lone soldiers serving in the IDF, some 3,500 soldiers are eligible for a family allowance.
