Tens of thousands of disabled parking permits to be revoked: Plan to curb the phenomenon that has spiraled out of control
The inter-ministerial team examining eligibility for disabled parking permits recommends shifting the mechanism to rely primarily on National Insurance Institute determinations. Hundreds of thousands of existing permits will be re-examined, with many expected to be revoked. Over the past decade, the number of vehicles associated with disabled permits has surged by 322%.
The inter-ministerial team established by the government to examine eligibility for disabled parking permits has published its findings. The core of the proposal is a comprehensive review of all existing permits and the establishment of new eligibility rules based on National Insurance Institute criteria, bypassing the current testing procedures at the Licensing Office.
The team included representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the National Insurance Institute, and the Ministry of Transport. According to Globes, the publication of these findings was delayed at the request of the Ministry of Transport until after the Likud primaries.
The team's work is based on the fact that at the end of last year, Israel had 446,000 disabled individuals eligible for a permit, with 655,000 vehicles associated with them. This represents a 322% increase over a decade, while the rate of those eligible for general disability has risen by only 46%.
The volume of permit approvals has surged; the rate of vehicles eligible for a permit, which stood at 6% in 2014, reached 17% last year. In Australia, the UK, and New York, this rate is only 5%–7%.
"Lack of clear professional interpretation"
The report notes: "Over the years, a reality has emerged where most applicants for a disabled parking permit turn to the Ministry of Transport and its doctors. These doctors are employed through external suppliers and check documents only. They are not trained to determine disability and do not conduct physical functional examinations, yet they make most of the decisions regarding the granting of a parking permit."
The report emphasizes that the lack of a clear professional interpretation and proper supervision leads to implementation failures that harm both the disabled population and the general public.
Furthermore, the team discovered that out of approximately 485,000 records of people who received a permit from the Ministry of Transport, about 128,000 were not recognized at all by the National Insurance Institute. "There is a concern that in the vast majority of these cases, these individuals do not meet the conditions for determining a degree of disability, certainly not one exceeding 60% as required by law, even before performing the mobility function test," the report states.
New criteria and permit review
The team proposes that the Licensing Authority henceforth rely on medical examinations and conclusions approved by the National Insurance Institute. Eligibility will be limited to the following groups:
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The blind.
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Those eligible for a mobility allowance with a mobility disability level of 60% or more.
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Those eligible for a nursing allowance (SHEREM) with a mobility disability of 60% or more.
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Those eligible for a disabled child allowance for specific disabilities.
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Those eligible for a nursing allowance (caregiver) of level 4 or higher.
For residents not eligible for National Insurance Institute allowances due to income tests, a separate procedure will be established. The team has also decided to audit the stock of existing permits; it is estimated that many permits expiring in the next two years will not be renewed.
