Article 28 of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
المادة 28 من نظام التقاعد المدني
Payment of the pension stops if its holder or beneficiary is appointed to a permanent government post with a salary equal to or above the pension; a shortfall is paid, and combining is allowed up to SAR 400.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقف صرف المعاش عن صاحب المعاش أو المستحقين إذا عين أو عينوا في وظائف ثابتة في الحكومة أو كانوا معينين فيها كذلك عند وفاة صاحب المعاش بشرط أن يكون راتب الموظف معادلًا للمعاش أو زائدًا عليه، فإذا نقص الراتب عما يستحقه من معاش أُدي إليه الفرق، على أنه يجوز الجمع بين ما يستحقه أي منهم من المعاش وراتبه الشهري إذا لم يزد مجموعها عن (400) ريال، فإذا زاد عن هذا الحد فينقص المعاش التقاعدي بقدر تلك الزيادة.
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 28 explained in plain English
This Article deals with combining a pension with a government salary.
Who is covered: The pensioner or those entitled through him, if:
- They are appointed to permanent posts in the government, or
- They were so appointed at the time of the pensioner's death.
The rule:
- Payment of the pension stops provided the employee's salary is equal to the pension or exceeds it.
- If the salary is less than the pension he is entitled to, the difference is paid to him.
- A pension and a monthly salary may be combined if their total does not exceed SAR 400; if it exceeds this limit, the pension is reduced by the amount of the excess.
The Article speaks of "permanent posts in the government", so it does not address work in the private sector, and it does not define what counts as a permanent post.
It is followed by Article 29, which prevents receiving more than one pension and pays the larger pension, while allowing two or more pensions to be combined if the total does not exceed SAR 300 per month. Before it comes Article 27 on suspending the pension of female beneficiaries on marriage.
Because the calculation may differ according to the salary and the amount of the pension, anyone whose pension has been stopped may consult a lawyer who specializes in retirement and administrative matters.
Practical example
Lama was receiving SAR 1,500 from her late father's pension, then she was appointed to a permanent government post with a salary of SAR 7,000. Because her salary exceeds the pension, and because their total exceeds SAR 400, payment of her pension stops.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 28 of the Saudi Civil Retirement Law
Does a retirement pension stop if I get a government job?
Payment of the pension stops if its holder or beneficiary is appointed to a permanent government post, provided the salary is equal to the pension or exceeds it.
What if my government salary is less than the pension?
If the salary is less than the pension he is entitled to, the difference is paid to him.
When may a pension and a salary be combined?
They may be combined if their total does not exceed SAR 400; if it exceeds that, the pension is reduced by the amount of the excess.
More articles on Combining Pension and Salary
- Article 29
A beneficiary may not receive more than one pension; the larger is paid, but several may be combined if their total does not exceed SAR 300 per month.
لا يجوز لأي مستحق الحصول على أكثر من معاش، فإذا استحق لشخص واحد أكثر من معاش بموجب هذا النظام أو أنظمة التقاعد الأخرى أدي إليه المعاش الأكبر، على أنه يجوز الجمع
- Article 31
A pensioner who returns to a post covered by the Law has his pension suspended during that service, and on its end he is treated by whichever of two methods is better for him.
مع عدم الإخلال بما جاء في المادة الثامنة والعشرون، إذا عاد صاحب المعاش إلى الخدمة في إحدى الوظائف التي ينتفع شاغلها بأحكام هذا النظام يوقف صرف معاشه طيلة مدة اس
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.