Article 13 of the Saudi Elderly Rights and Care Law
المادة 13 من نظام حقوق كبير السن ورعايته
The article requires the government body and anyone providing a public service on its behalf to give the needy elderly person a discount on its public services, within its powers and as the Regulations determine.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تمنح الجهة الحكومية أو من يقدم خدمة عامة نيابةً عنها لكبير السن المحتاج –في حدود الصلاحيات المخولة لها نظاماً- خصماً على الخدمات العامة التي تقدمها؛ وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article sets a financial benefit, a discount on public services. To understand it, it helps to look at its elements:
- Who gives the discount: the government body, or anyone providing a public service on its behalf.
- Who benefits: specifically the needy elderly person, not every elderly person.
- On what: the public services the body provides, which under Article 1 means every service provided by the government body itself or through others.
- The limit: the discount is given within the powers the body is legally granted, so a body does not give a discount outside the powers it holds.
- Details: as the Regulations determine; the article does not state the discount rate or the services covered.
This rule differs from Article 12, under which the Ministry grants the elderly person a privilege card enabling them to benefit from the public services they need for the necessities of daily life, without the text qualifying it with the description "needy"; the discount here is limited to the needy. It is followed by Article 14 on guardianship over elderly people who lack or have diminished capacity.
Anyone who believes they are entitled to the discount and has not been given it can consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases to learn the legal route available.
Practical example
Abu Nasser in Jazan is 71 and counts as needy under the Law's controls, and needs a public service that a government body provides for a fee. Under this article the body gives him a discount on this service within its legal powers, and the discount rate and how to obtain it are found in the Regulations.
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 13 of the Saudi Elderly Rights and Care Law
Is there a discount for the elderly on government services?
The government body, or anyone providing a public service on its behalf, gives the needy elderly person a discount on public services within its powers, as the Regulations determine.
Is the discount for everyone over 60?
The text gives the discount to the needy elderly person, not to every elderly person.
What is the discount rate for the elderly?
The article does not set a rate, and leaves the details to what the Regulations determine.
More articles on Services and Privileges for the Elderly
- Article 10
The article obliges the Ministry to provide assistive medical devices and supplies to the needy elderly person free of charge, and to bear their operating and maintenance costs, as the Regulations determine.
توفر الوزارة لكبير السن المحتاج الأجهزة والمستلزمات الطبية المساعِدة بالمجان، وتتحمل ما يترتب عليها من نفقات التشغيل والصيانة؛ وذلك وفق ما تحدده اللائحة.
- Article 11
The article requires the government body and anyone providing a public service on its behalf to give the elderly person priority in essential services, particularly health and social services, as the Regulations determine.
على الجهة الحكومية ومن يقدم خدمة عامة نيابةً عنها إعطاء كبير السن أولوية في الحصول على الخدمات الأساسية التي تقدمها، وبخاصة الخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية؛ وذلك وفق
- Article 12
Under the article the Ministry grants the elderly person a privilege card to benefit from public services for the necessities of daily life, and the elderly person must be taken into account in procedures and these completed quickly.
تمنح الوزارة كبير السن بطاقة امتياز تمكنه من الاستفادة من الخدمات العامة التي يحتاجها لضروريات حياته اليومية التي تقدمها الجهات الحكومية والخاصة والأهلية لكبير
- Article 20
The article punishes private or non-profit care homes that breach Article 4, and providers of public services that breach Articles 11 and 13, with a fine of up to SAR 100,000, and regulates the review committee, challenges and enforcement.
1- تعاقب دور الرعاية الاجتماعية الخاصة أو الأهلية المخالفة لحكم المادة (الرابعة) من النظام، ومن يقدم خدمة عامة نيابةً عن الجهة الحكومية المخالفة لحكم المادتين (
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.