Germany agrees to $88 million more for Holocaust survivors

The organization that handles claims on behalf of Jews who suffered under the Nazis says Germany has agreed to pay another 75 million euros ($88 million) to fund social welfare services for Holocaust survivors.

The New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany said Tuesday the additional money brings total funding next year to 480 million euros ($560 million), to help survivors as they grow older and more frail.

Claims Conference negotiator Greg Schneider said, “These elderly heroes deserve the recognition that increased payments and much-needed services will provide.”

Germany also agreed to increase pensions paid to 55,000 Holocaust survivors in Central and Eastern Europe, and expand eligibility for child survivors.

Earlier this year, the German government agreed to recognize some 25,000 Jewish Algerians as Holocaust survivors, making them eligible for compensation.

The Claims Conference announced in February that Jews who lived in Algeria between July 1940 and November 1942 were eligible for a one-time payment of €2,556.46 ($3,183).

The Claims Conference is a nonprofit organization that helps survivors to obtain compensation. It was founded in 1951 by representatives of international Jewish organizations, and distributes funds it receives from Germany to survivors and their welfare groups. According to Claims Conference figures, since 1952 the German government has paid out some $70 billion in compensation.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.