Preferred work: what is it and how do you get the grant?
Last checked: October 2026. Amounts change, so always confirm with the official source.
The short answerPreferred work (avoda muadefet, also called "required work") is 6 full months, at least 150 work days, in a field the country needs. When you finish, Bituach Leumi pays you a one-time ₪11,461 (2026) on top of your salary. You have to finish within 24 months of discharge.
Which jobs count?
The fields: factories, construction, gas stations, hotels, farming and packing houses, and care for people with disabilities.
There's no single official list of jobs. So the most important thing is: check with Bituach Leumi that the job qualifies before you start. Only Bituach Leumi decides.
By when?
You must finish 6 months within 24 months of discharge. So start by about month 18, and a little earlier is safer in case a job falls through.
Reserve days you serve in the 2 years after discharge extend the window by the same number of days.
Before the trip or after?
Both work. A trip of up to about a year still leaves time for preferred work afterwards. If you want money for the trip, do it before.
Who pays?
Bituach Leumi pays the grant. Your salary comes from the employer as usual.
Careful: unemployment pay
Unemployment pay you get before preferred work can be taken off the grant. Check with Bituach Leumi before you sign up.
How much are you owed? Take the 1-minute quiz →Four quick questions show roughly what the state owes you and your next 3 steps.
Common questions
Can I do preferred work after my trip?
Yes, if you finish 6 full months within 24 months of discharge. Start by about month 18.
How much is the preferred-work grant?
₪11,461 in 2026, one time, on top of your salary.
How do I know if a job counts?
Check with Bituach Leumi before you start. Only Bituach Leumi decides whether a job counts, and there's no single official list of jobs.
Official sources