Article 49 of the Saudi Social Insurance Law
المادة 49 من نظام التأمينات الاجتماعية · الباب الرابع: فرع التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل
The article sets the cases in which unemployment compensation stops, namely death, reaching pension age with a pension entitlement, or loss of another condition, and how payment resumes.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- یوقف صرف التعويض عن المشترك المتعطل عن العمل في أي من الحالات الآتية:
أ- الوفاة.
ب- إذا بلغ السن النظامية لاستحقاق المعاش، وكان مستحقاً لمعاش وفقاً لأحكام المادة (السادسة عشرة) من النظام، فإن لم يكن مستحقاً لمعاش فيستمر صرف التعويض.
ج- زوال أي شرط من شروط الاستحقاق الاخرى المنصوص عليها في المادة (الخامسة والأربعين) من النظام.
2- إذا أوقف صرف التعویض في أي من الحالات المحددة في الفقرة الفرعية (ج) من الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة ثم زال المانع الذي أوقف الصرف بمقتضاه، فیستأنف الصرف من أول الشهر التالي لتاريخ إشعار المؤسسة بزوال ذلك المانع على أن يتم الإشعار خلال المهلة التي تحددها 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 49 explained in plain English
This article explains when payment of unemployment compensation stops, and how it resumes.
Cases of stopping:
- Death.
- Reaching the statutory age of entitlement to a pension if the subscriber is entitled to a pension under Article 16 of the Law. If the subscriber reaches this age and is not entitled to a pension, payment of the compensation continues.
- Loss of any other condition of entitlement set out in Article 45, such as obtaining income from work or a private activity, not seriously searching for work, not being committed to training, or losing the ability to work.
Resuming payment: if payment was stopped because a condition was lost (the third case) and the obstacle then ends, payment resumes from the first of the month following the date the Institution is notified that the obstacle has ended, provided the notification is made within the deadline the Regulations set.
In all cases, payment remains subject to the maximum period in Article 47. Someone whose compensation was stopped and who believes the stop was wrong can consult a lawyer specialized in social insurance matters.
Practical example
Abdullah was receiving unemployment compensation, and then worked temporarily for pay for two months, so payment of the compensation was stopped because he had income from work. After the temporary job ended, he notified the Institution within the set deadline that the obstacle had ended, so payment of the compensation resumes for him from the first of the month following the date of his notification.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 49 of the Saudi Social Insurance Law
When does payment of unemployment compensation stop?
On death, on reaching pension age while entitled to a pension under Article 16, or on loss of any of the conditions of entitlement in Article 45.
Does the compensation stop at retirement age?
It stops if the subscriber is entitled to a pension; if the subscriber is not entitled to a pension, payment of the compensation continues.
How do I resume payment after it was stopped?
By notifying the Institution that the obstacle has ended within the deadline the Regulations set, and payment resumes from the first of the month following the date of the notification.
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 45
The article lists ten conditions for entitlement to unemployment compensation, including Saudi nationality and contribution period, and that unemployment is not due to dismissal for the worker's fault or leaving by choice.
یحق للمشترك المتعطل عن العمل الحصول على تعويض فرع التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل، إذا توافرت لديه الشروط الآتية: أ- أن يكون سعودي الجنسية. ب- أن يكون قد أكمل المدد
More articles on SANED Unemployment Compensation
- Article 43
The article makes unemployment insurance compulsory for Saudi workers inside the Kingdom who were under 64 when it began to apply to them, and suspends contributions on reaching pension age.
1- یطبق فرع التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل بصورة إلزامية على جميع العمال السعوديين الذين يعملون داخل المملكة، بشرط أن تكون سن العامل عند بدء تطبيق النظام علیه دون (
- Article 44
The article sets the unemployment branch contribution at 2% of the wage, split equally between worker and employer, and allows the Council of Ministers to change it between 0.5% and 2%.
1- تحدد اشتراكات فرع التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل بنسبة (2 %) من الأجر الخاضع للاشتراك: (1 %) يتحملها صاحب العمل، و(1 %) يتحملها المشترك. 2- يجوز تعديل الاشتراكات
- Article 45
The article lists ten conditions for entitlement to unemployment compensation, including Saudi nationality and contribution period, and that unemployment is not due to dismissal for the worker's fault or leaving by choice.
یحق للمشترك المتعطل عن العمل الحصول على تعويض فرع التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل، إذا توافرت لديه الشروط الآتية: أ- أن يكون سعودي الجنسية. ب- أن يكون قد أكمل المدد
- Article 46
The article sets the work periods required to qualify for unemployment compensation each time, from 12 months within 36 for the first time to 36 months within 48 for later times.
1- يكون استحقاق التعويض للمشترك المتعطل عن العمل وفقاً للآتي: أ- التعويض للمرة الأولى إذا عمل مدة لا تقل عن (12) شهراً خلال (36) شهراً التي تسبق المطالبة الأولى
- Article 47
The article sets the maximum period for paying unemployment compensation at 12 months, continuous or not, for each time of entitlement, paid within 24 continuous months from the first payment.
تكون المدة القصوى لصرف التعويض (12) شهراً متصلة أو متقطعة عن كل مرة من مرات الاستحقاق، على أن يتم صرف هذا التعويض خلال (24) شهراً متصلة لكل مرة تبدأ من تاريخ أو
- Article 48
The article sets unemployment compensation at 60% of the average wages for the first three months and 50% afterwards, capped at SAR 9,000 and then SAR 7,500 per month.
1- یصرف تعویض فرع التأمين ضد التعطل عن العمل بواقع (60 %) من متوسط الأجور الشهرية عن كل شهر من الأشهر الثلاثة الأولى، وبواقع (50 %) من هذا المتوسط عن كل شهر یزی
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.