Salary Garnishment in Israel: How Much Money Must Be Left for the Debtor?

Core Principle

Israeli law protects a portion of your salary from full garnishment for the repayment of debts. This is to ensure that you and your family retain sufficient funds for basic living necessities, such as food, housing, and utilities. The amount protected from seizure is not a fixed sum and depends on your income, marital status, and number of dependents.

Who is Eligible?

Every salaried employee against whom a case has been opened with the Enforcement and Collection Authority (Hotza'a LaPoal) or who is undergoing bankruptcy proceedings is entitled to the protection of a portion of their salary from garnishment.

Key criteria for determining the protected amount:

An individual without children.
A married individual or one in a civil partnership.
A parent with minor children (the amount varies based on the number of children).

Who may not be subject to standard rules:

Debtors for child support (mezonot). In such cases, the percentage withheld from the salary may be significantly higher, and the protected minimum may be lower.
Self-employed individuals (atzmai), as their income is not classified as a "salary."

Your Rights

Your primary right is to retain the legally mandated living wage. The Registrar of the Enforcement and Collection Authority (rasham Hotza'a LaPoal) is obligated to leave you this amount when issuing a wage garnishment order. The amount of the protected sum is periodically updated.

The structure for calculating the protected amount is provided below. The exact figures must be verified at the time of application, as they are subject to change.

Scroll table horizontally

Marital Status	Approximate Protected Amount (Net)
Individual	[Amount set by law]
Married couple without children	[Amount set by law]
Family + 1 child	[Amount set by law]
Family + 2 or more children	[Amount set by law]

Important: If your salary is below the established minimum, it cannot be garnished (with the exception of child support debts).

Step-by-Step Guide

Receiving the Notice. You or your employer will receive an official notice (tzav ikul) of wage garnishment from the Hotza'a LaPoal.
Do Not Ignore. It is imperative to act immediately upon receiving the notice. Verify that your employer has correctly calculated the amount to be withheld.
Filing an Application (Bakasha). If you believe that an excessive amount is being withheld or that your financial situation requires a larger protected sum, you must file a special application with the Hotza'a LaPoal. This may be a "request to increase the amount exempt from garnishment" (bakasha le'hagdalat schum mugan me'ikul).
Gathering Evidence. Attach all documents supporting your difficult financial situation to the application: proof of income, lease agreements, medical bills, etc.
Decision of the Registrar. The Registrar will review your application and issue a decision. The Registrar may increase the protected amount if your arguments are deemed compelling.

List of Documents

To file an application with the Hotza'a LaPoal, you will likely need the following:

Identity card (Teudat Zehut) with the current appendix (sefach).
The last 3-6 pay stubs (tlushei maskoret).
Bank statements for the last 3-6 months (dapei cheshbon bank).
Residential lease agreement (chozeh schirut).
Utility bill receipts (electricity, water, arnona).
Documents confirming special circumstances (e.g., medical certificates regarding the need for expensive treatment).

Pitfalls

Do not ignore notices! Inaction will result in your employer being obligated to execute the garnishment order as it was received.
Child support debts (mezonot) are an exception. Up to 50% of the salary may be withheld for these debts, and the standard protection rules apply differently.
Bank Account Seizure. The protection of a salary does not automatically extend to the protection of a bank account. If the protected portion of the salary is deposited into an already seized account, the funds may be withdrawn. A separate application must be filed to lift the seizure on the account or for the designated use of these funds.
Act promptly. Strict deadlines are often set for filing objections and applications (typically 21-30 days from the date of receiving the notice).

Contacts and Links

Specific phone numbers, branch addresses, and links to online forms should be sought in the official notice you received from the Enforcement and Collection Authority (Hotza'a LaPoal).

You can also find general information on the government portal by searching for the keywords "Hotza'a LaPoal" or "רשות האכיפה והגבייה".

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