In response to requests to President Moshe Katsav by needy members of the population, the President's Discretionary Fund in 5766 (September 2005 - September 2006) disbursed the overall sum of NIS 4 million, including NIS 300,000 given in the week leading up to Rosh Hashana. Of the applicants whose requests were granted, 54 per cent asked for assistance towards the cost of dental treatment, 17 per cent needed essential home appliances, 16.5 per cent required subsistence supplements and 5 per cent requested equipment related to their specific health problems.