Article 23 of the Saudi Social Insurance Law
المادة 23 من نظام التأمينات الاجتماعية · الباب الثاني: فرع المعاشات
The article sets the cases in which a deceased subscriber's family members are entitled to a death pension: death while in service, death after leaving work, or death of a pensioner.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا توفي المشترك وهو على رأس العمل الخاضع لأحكام النظام، يحق لأفراد عائلته الحصول على معاش الوفاة إذا كان المشترك المتوفى قد توافرت لديه مدة اشتراك لا تقل عن (3) أشهر متصلة أو (6) أشهر متقطعة تالية لتاريخ تسجيله الفعلي لدى المؤسسة.
2- يحتسب معاش الوفاة المنصوص عليه في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة وفق أحكام حساب المعاش المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (التاسعة عشرة) من النظام.
3- إذا توفي المشترك بعد تركه العمل الخاضع لأحكام النظام، وبلغت مدة اشتراكه المدة المؤهلة لاستحقاق المعاش المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (السادسة عشرة) من النظام، يحق لأفراد عائلته الحصول على المعاش وفق أحكام الفقرتين (1) و (2) من المادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام.
4- في حال وفاة صاحب المعاش المستحق وفق أحكام المواد (السادسة عشرة) و(التاسعة عشرة) و(العشرين) من النظام، يحق لأفراد عائلته الحصول على هذا المعاش وفق أحكام المادة (الرابعة والعشرين) من النظام.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article regulates the right of a subscriber's family to a pension after the subscriber's death, and distinguishes three cases:
1. Death while in service: if the subscriber dies while in service in employment subject to the Law, the subscriber's family members are entitled to a death pension, provided the subscriber had a contribution period of no less than 3 continuous months or 6 non-continuous months after the date of actual registration with the Institution. This pension is calculated under the calculation provisions in paragraph (2) of Article 19.
2. Death after leaving work: if the subscriber dies after leaving employment subject to the Law, the subscriber's family members are entitled to the pension if the contribution period has reached the qualifying period for pension entitlement provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 16, and it is calculated under paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 17.
3. Death of a pensioner: if a person receiving a pension under Articles 16, 19 or 20 dies, the family members are entitled to that pension under Article 24.
Who are the family members? Article 24 specifies them: the widower or widow, sons and daughters under 21 (extended to 24 for students, with no age limit for those medically disabled until their disability ends), and the father and mother if they were dependent on the deceased at the time of death. The pension is distributed at 50% if there is one beneficiary, and 75% equally if there are two or more.
Note that the period required in the case of death while in service is very short, which gives the family quick protection. In disputes over entitlement, a lawyer specialized in social insurance matters can be consulted.
Practical example
Omar died in a traffic accident after 5 continuous months of registration with social insurance, while in service at a company in Taif. Because his contribution period exceeded 3 continuous months, his family members are entitled to a death pension, calculated under paragraph (2) of Article 19 and distributed under Article 24.
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 23 of the Saudi Social Insurance Law
What are the conditions for a death pension if the subscriber dies while working?
The subscriber must have a contribution period of no less than 3 continuous months or 6 non-continuous months after the date of actual registration with the Institution.
Is the family entitled to a pension if the subscriber dies after leaving work?
Yes, if the subscriber's contribution period has reached the qualifying period for pension entitlement provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 16.
Does a retiree's pension pass to the family after death?
Yes. If the deceased was a pensioner under Articles 16, 19 or 20, the family members are entitled to it under Article 24.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 16
The article sets the statutory age of entitlement at 65, the conditions for obtaining a pension on reaching it, and the possibility of early retirement of no more than 120 months under conditions.
1- يقصد بالسن النظامية للاستحقاق لغرض تطبيق أحكام النظام: سن (الخامسة والستين). 2- يحق للمشترك الحصول على المعاش إذا بلغ السن النظامية للاستحقاق، وكانت مدة اشتر
- Article 17
The article explains how the retirement pension is calculated, its two minimum amounts, its 3% reduction per year for early retirement, and the same-rate increase for those who keep working after the statutory age.
1- يُحتسب المعاش المنصوص عليه في المادة (السادسة عشرة) بضرب (2.25 %) في متوسط الأجر أو الراتب الخاضع للاشتراك المحدد وفق أحكام الفقرة (1) من المادة (السادسة وال
- Article 19
The article sets the conditions for a non-occupational disability pension, how it is calculated with a minimum, and a 50% increase for someone who needs another person's help in daily life.
1- يحق للمشترك الذي يصاب بعجز غـير مهني الحصول على معاش العجز غير المهني متى بلغت مدة اشتراكه (12) شهراً متصلة أو (18) شهراً متقطعة تالية لتاريخ تسجيله الفعلي ف
- Article 24
The article defines the family members of a deceased subscriber entitled to the pension and the conditions for each, the percentage of distribution, and redistribution when someone's entitlement ends.
1- في تطبيق أحكام النظام، يقصد بأفراد العائلة كل من: أ - أرمل أو أرملة المشترك المتوفى (حسب الحال). ويوقف الاستحقاق في حال الزواج، ويتم استئناف الاستحقاق في حال
More articles on Disability and Death Pension
- Article 19
The article sets the conditions for a non-occupational disability pension, how it is calculated with a minimum, and a 50% increase for someone who needs another person's help in daily life.
1- يحق للمشترك الذي يصاب بعجز غـير مهني الحصول على معاش العجز غير المهني متى بلغت مدة اشتراكه (12) شهراً متصلة أو (18) شهراً متقطعة تالية لتاريخ تسجيله الفعلي ف
- Article 20
The article gives a subscriber the right to a pension if a non-occupational disability occurs while not in service, once the contribution period has reached the qualifying period for a pension.
إذا حدث العجز غير المهني والمشترك ليس على رأس العمل الخاضع لأحكام النظام وبلغت مدة اشتراكه المدة المؤهلة لاستحقاق المعاش المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (
- Article 21
The article sets when a subscriber is considered to have a non-occupational disability, makes the disability pension temporary subject to periodic examinations, and makes it final on reaching the statutory age of entitlement.
1- يعد المشترك مصاباً بعجز غير مهني وفق أحكام المادتين (التاسعة عشرة) و(العشرين) من النظام إذا توافرت لديه الشروط الآتية: أ- ذا استحال عليه -بسبب حالته الصحية ا
- Article 22
The article provides that a non-occupational disability pension is suspended if its holder returns to work subject to the Law before the statutory age, during the period of work preceding the date of entitlement to the Article 16 pension.
في حال عاد صاحب المعاش المستحق وفق أحكام المادتين (التاسعة عشرة) و(العشرين) من النظام لعمل خاضع لأحكام النظام قبل بلوغه السن النظامية للاستحقاق، يتم إيقاف معاشه
- Article 24
The article defines the family members of a deceased subscriber entitled to the pension and the conditions for each, the percentage of distribution, and redistribution when someone's entitlement ends.
1- في تطبيق أحكام النظام، يقصد بأفراد العائلة كل من: أ - أرمل أو أرملة المشترك المتوفى (حسب الحال). ويوقف الاستحقاق في حال الزواج، ويتم استئناف الاستحقاق في حال
- Article 25
The article provides compensation calculated on the contributions paid, after revaluation, to someone who reached the statutory age or became disabled and is not entitled to a pension, and to the family of a deceased subscriber in specified cases.
1- المشترك الذي بلغ أو تجاوز السن النظامية للاستحقاق، والمشترك المصاب بالعجز المنصوص عليه في المادة (الحادية والعشرين) من النظام، اللذان توقفا عن العمل الخاضع ل
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.