Article 5 of the Saudi Job Search Allowance Regulation

This article sets the eligibility conditions that must all be met by an applicant for them to become “qualified” for the allowance:

1. Be a Saudi national.
2. Be permanently resident in the Kingdom, with the conditions set by the implementing rules.
3. Be able to work and serious in seeking it, with the implementing rules setting the criteria for ability and seriousness.
4. Be not less than 20 years old and not more than 40 years.
5. Not be an employee or worker in the public or private sector.
6. Not be paid a retirement pension.
7. Not be paid any allowance or compensation against unemployment.
8. Not be paid a pension from social security.
9. Not be a student or trainee at any stage of education or training.
10. Not have a commercial activity, as the implementing rules determine.
11. Not have monthly income or wealth exceeding the limit set by the implementing rules.
12. Not have previously benefited from the job search allowance or from the financial allowance for difficulty obtaining work.

The last condition contains an exception: the application of a person who previously benefited may be accepted, provided that the total of the previous and subsequent payment periods does not exceed the payment period set in Article 3, which is 15 months, and the implementing rules set how periods are counted.

Remember that income and wealth are calculated for the applicant and their family, as defined in Article 1. These conditions are linked to Article 6, which regulates submitting the application and its periods: the Fund studies the application to verify the eligibility conditions and notifies the applicant of the decision within two months of the application being completed, and a refusal must give reasons. Anyone whose application was refused and who believes they meet the conditions should consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.