Article 27 of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
المادة 27 من نظام التقاعد المدني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 ترملت، فإذا كانت المستحقة التي طُلقت متزوجة وقت وفاة صاحب المعاش فيعاد توزيع المعاش بافتراض استحقاقها وقت الوفاة.
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 27 explained in plain English
This Article regulates the effect of marriage on the pension of female beneficiaries.
When the pension is suspended: From the date of the marriage contract, the pension is suspended for:
- The wife, daughter, son's daughter and sister, if they marry.
- The mother, if she marries someone other than the deceased's father.
What counts is the date of the marriage contract, not another date.
Return of the pension: Entitlement is restored to the woman concerned if she is divorced or widowed. The Article speaks of "suspension" and not "cutting off", which is why it can return.
A special case: If a beneficiary who was divorced was married at the time of the pensioner's death, the pension is redistributed on the assumption that she was entitled at the time of death. That is, she is included in the distribution as if she had been among the beneficiaries since the death.
This Article follows Article 26, which cuts off the pension of male children, sons' children and brothers at 21 with its exceptions, so the two Articles show when a beneficiary's share ends or is suspended. It is followed by Article 28, which suspends the pension if its holder or beneficiary is appointed to a permanent government post with a salary equal to or exceeding the pension.
The Article does not set out the procedures for requesting restoration of the pension. If you need this, you may consult a lawyer who specializes in personal status and retirement matters.
Practical example
Reem was receiving a share of her late father's pension, then she married, so her pension was suspended from the date of the marriage contract. Years later she was divorced, so her entitlement to the pension is restored.
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 27 of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
Is a daughter's pension suspended if she marries?
Yes. A daughter's pension is suspended from the date of the marriage contract.
Does the pension return to a daughter after divorce?
Yes. Entitlement is restored to the woman concerned if she is divorced or widowed.
Is a mother's pension suspended if she marries?
A mother's pension is suspended if she marries someone other than the deceased's father.
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 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 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.