Article 24 bis of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
المادة 24 مكرر من نظام التقاعد المدني
A pensioner whose disappearance is established by a final court judgment is treated as deceased for the beneficiaries' rights, and his rights are resettled retroactively if he turns out to be alive.
Text of the added article (Arabic)
This article was added to the law by Royal Decree No. M/87 dated 24/9/1442 AH.
تتعامل المؤسسة مع صاحب المعاش المفقود وفق الأحكام الآتية:
أ- يعامل صاحب المعاش الذي ثبت فقده بحكم قضائي نهائي - فيما يتعلق بالحقوق التقاعدية للمستحقين - معاملة من ثبتت وفاته من تاريخ الفقد الوارد في صك الحكم القضائي، ولا يوقف صرف المعاش قبل صدور الحكم القضائي النهائي. وتعد المبالغ المتبقية من المعاش مستحقة لصاحب المعاش من تاريخ فقده حتى تاريخ ثبوت وفاته حقيقة، أو حكماً.
ب- إذا تبين أن صاحب المعاش المفقود حي فإن حقوقه التقاعدية تعاد تسويتها بأثر رجعي بحسب أحكام النظام، وتعد المبالغ الت دفعتها المؤسسة للمستحقين مبرئة لذمتها، نافذة في ذمة صاحب المعاش، وتحسم من حقوقه.
ج- تحدد بقرار من مجلس إدارة المؤسسة قواعد وإجراءات تنفيذ أحكام هذه المادة
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 24 bis explained in plain English
This Article was added by Royal Decree No. M/87 dated 24/9/1442 AH, to deal with the situation of a missing pensioner.
(a) After the judgment of disappearance:
- A pensioner whose disappearance is established by a final court judgment is treated, with respect to the beneficiaries' retirement rights, as someone whose death is established, from the date of disappearance stated in the judgment deed.
- Payment of the pension is not suspended before the final court judgment is issued.
- The amounts remaining of the pension are due to the pensioner from the date of his disappearance until the date his death is established, in fact or by judgment.
(b) If he turns out to be alive: His retirement rights are resettled retroactively in accordance with the provisions of the Law, and the amounts the Institution paid to the beneficiaries are treated as discharging its liability, binding on the pensioner, and are deducted from his rights. That is, the Institution cannot be asked for them again, and they are deducted from his own entitlements.
(c) Details: The rules and procedures for implementing this Article are set by decision of the Institution's board of directors; the Article does not state the content of those rules.
This Article is linked to Article 24, which sets the pension of the beneficiaries after death according to their number, and to Article 25, which specifies who the beneficiaries are. Because a judgment of disappearance requires a court procedure, the family should preferably consult a lawyer who specializes in personal status and retirement matters.
Practical example
A pensioner went missing in an accident and his fate was unknown, so payment of his pension continued until a final court judgment of his disappearance was issued. After the judgment, those entitled through him were treated as beneficiaries of a deceased person from the date of disappearance stated in the judgment deed. If it later appears that he is alive, his rights are resettled retroactively and the amounts paid to the beneficiaries are deducted from them.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 24 bis of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
Is a missing person's pension suspended before the judgment of his disappearance?
No. Payment of the pension is not suspended before the final court judgment is issued.
How are the beneficiaries of a missing person treated?
A pensioner whose disappearance is established by a final court judgment is treated like someone whose death is established, with respect to the beneficiaries' rights, from the date of disappearance stated in the judgment deed.
What happens if the missing person returns alive?
His retirement rights are resettled retroactively, and the amounts paid to the beneficiaries are treated as discharging the Institution's liability and are deducted from his rights.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/87 — 24/9/1442 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- أُضيفت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/87) وتاريخ 1442/9/24هـ تكون بالنص الآتي:
" تتعامل المؤسسة مع صاحب المعاش المفقود وفق الأحكام الآتية:
أ- يعامل صاحب المعاش الذي ثبت فقده بحكم قضائي نهائي - فيما يتعلق بالحقوق التقاعدية للمستحقين - معاملة من ثبتت وفاته من تاريخ الفقد الوارد في صك الحكم القضائي، ولا يوقف صرف المعاش قبل صدور الحكم القضائي النهائي. وتعد المبالغ المتبقية من المعاش مستحقة لصاحب المعاش من تاريخ فقده حتى تاريخ ثبوت وفاته حقيقة، أو حكماً.
ب- إذا تبين أن صاحب المعاش المفقود حي فإن حقوقه التقاعدية تعاد تسويتها بأثر رجعي بحسب أحكام النظام، وتعد المبالغ الت دفعتها المؤسسة للمستحقين مبرئة لذمتها، نافذة في ذمة صاحب المعاش، وتحسم من حقوقه.
ج- تحدد بقرار من مجلس إدارة المؤسسة قواعد وإجراءات تنفيذ أحكام هذه المادة".
More articles on Pension of Heirs and Beneficiaries
- Article 24
After a pensioner dies, a pension is fixed for the beneficiaries equal to the full pension if there are three or more, three-quarters if two, and half if one, divided equally among them.
إذا توفي صاحب المعاش فيقرر للمستحقين عنه معاش بقدر المعاش المستحق له إذا كانوا ثلاثة فأكثر، وبقدر ثلاثة أرباعه إذا كانوا اثنين، وبقدر نصفه إذا كان المستحق واحدً
- Article 25Amended (1442 AH)
The Article lists the beneficiaries of a pensioner, and requires anyone other than the wife, son and daughter to have depended on him for support at his death, leaving the board of directors to set the rules.
المستحقون عن صاحب المعاش هم: الزوج أو الزوجة، والأم والأب، والابن والبنت، وابن وبنت الابن الذي توفي في حياة صاحب المعاش، والأخ والأخت، والجد والجدة. وفيما عدا ا
- Article 26
The pension of male children, sons' children and brothers is cut off at age 21, except for a regular student until 26 or graduation, and a totally disabled person until the disability ends.
يقطع المعاش المستحق للذكور من الأولاد وأولاد الابن والإخوة إذا بلغوا سن الواحدة والعشرين، واستثناء مما تقدم يستمر صرف المعاش بالنسبة إلى هؤلاء المستحقين في الأح
- Article 27
The pension of a wife, daughter, son's daughter and sister is suspended on marriage, and the mother's if she marries someone other than the deceased's father, and it is restored on divorce or widowhood.
اعتبارًا من تاريخ عقد الزواج يوقف معاش الزوجة والبنت وبنت الابن والأخت إذا تزوجن، والأم إذا تزوجت من غير والد المتوفى، ويعاد الاستحقاق لصاحبته إذا طُلقت أو ترمل
- Article 30
When a beneficiary's share lapses or is suspended it becomes the Fund's right and does not pass to the other beneficiaries, but the remaining beneficiaries' share may not fall below 50% of the pension.
إذا سقط أو أوقف نصيب أحد المستحقين لأي سبب كان فلا يؤول إلى باقي المستحقين وإنما يصبح حقًّا للصندوق على أن لا يقل نصيب من بقي منهم في جميع الحالات عن خمسين (50%
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.