Article 25 of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
المادة 25 من نظام التقاعد المدني
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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
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 الزوجة والابن والبنت، فيشترط لاستحقاق الشخص أن يكون معتمداً في إعالته على صاحب المعاش عند وفاته. ويحدد مجلس إدارة المؤسسة العامة للتقاعد بقرار منه متى يعتبر الشخص معتمداً في إعالته على صاحب المعاش، وتاريخ بدء صرف الاستحقاق، وإجراءات إثبات ذلك
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 25 explained in plain English
This Article answers the question: who is entitled to a pension after the pensioner's death?
The beneficiaries are:
- The husband or wife.
- The mother and father.
- The son and daughter.
- The son and daughter of a son who died during the pensioner's lifetime.
- The brother and sister.
- The grandfather and grandmother.
The support condition: Except for the wife, son and daughter, a person is entitled only if he depended on the pensioner for support at his death. According to the text, this is not required of the wife, son and daughter.
What the board of directors determines: The board of directors of the General Retirement Institution determines by its decision when a person is considered dependent on the pensioner for support, the date payment of the entitlement begins, and the procedures for proving this. The Article does not state the content of this decision.
The current wording of the Article was amended by Royal Decree No. M/93 dated 22/10/1442 AH. It is followed by Article 26, which cuts off the pension of male children, sons' children and brothers when they reach 21, with an exception for the regular student and the totally disabled.
Because proving dependency can raise disputes, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in personal status and retirement matters.
Practical example
A pensioner died leaving a wife, a daughter and a mother. The wife and daughter are entitled without the support condition, but the mother is entitled only if she was dependent on him for support at his death, in accordance with the rules the board of directors of the General Retirement Institution sets.
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 25 of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
Who is entitled to the retirement pension after its holder dies?
The husband or wife, the mother and father, the son and daughter, the son and daughter of a son who died during the pensioner's lifetime, the brother and sister, and the grandfather and grandmother.
Must the beneficiary have been supported by the deceased?
This is required of everyone except the wife, son and daughter: he must have depended on the pensioner for support at his death.
Are a son's children entitled to their grandfather's pension?
The son and daughter of a son who died during the pensioner's lifetime are entitled, provided they depended on him for support at his death.
Who sets the rules on dependency?
The board of directors of the General Retirement Institution, by its decision, which also covers the date payment begins and the procedures for proving it.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/93 — 22/10/1442 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/93) وتاريخ 1442/10/22هـ ، لتكون بالنص الآتي: "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 الزوجة والابن والبنت، فيشترط لاستحقاق الشخص أن يكون معتمداً في إعالته على صاحب المعاش عند وفاته. ويحدد مجلس إدارة المؤسسة العامة للتقاعد بقرار منه متى يعتبر الشخص معتمداً في إعالته على صاحب المعاش، وتاريخ بدء صرف الاستحقاق، وإجراءات إثبات ذلك".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
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 الزوجة والابن والبنت فيشترط لاستحقاق الشخص أن يكون معتمدًا في إعالته على صاحب المعاش عند وفاته، ويحدد مجلس الإدارة بقرار منه متى يعتبر الشخص معتمدًا في إعالته على صاحب المعاش وإجراءات إثبات ذلك.
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 24 bisAmended (1442 AH)
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.
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
- 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.