Article 51 of the Saudi Social Insurance Law

المادة 51 من نظام التأمينات الاجتماعية · الباب الخامس: الأحكام المشتركة

The article allows the Institution to stop daily allowances, benefits and the non-occupational disability pension if the subscriber, without a legitimate excuse, refuses treatment, examinations or medical instructions.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

يجوز للمؤسسة وقف البدلات اليومية والعائدات ومعاش العجز غير المهني إذا ثبت رفض المشترك -دون عذر مشروع ووفق ما تحدده اللائحة- الخضوع للعـلاج أو الفحوص الطبية اللازمة أو التقيد بالتعليمات الطبية التي تتطلبها حالته الصحية.

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 51 explained in plain English

This article ties the continuation of certain compensation to the subscriber's cooperation in their treatment. It allows the Institution to stop:

Daily allowances.
Benefits.
The non-occupational disability pension.

When may it be stopped? If it is established that the subscriber refused, without a legitimate excuse and as the Regulations specify, any of the following:

Undergoing the necessary treatment.
Undergoing the necessary medical examinations.
Complying with the medical instructions that the subscriber's health condition requires.

Important notes:

The provision is discretionary ("may"), so stopping is not automatic merely because of refusal.
The refusal must be established and must be without a legitimate excuse; someone with a legitimate excuse is not covered by the provision. The Regulations specify what relates to this.

The purpose of this provision is that the compensation mentioned is tied to a health condition that the subscriber is expected to seek to treat or improve, so it should not continue to be paid to someone who refuses the required treatment or examination without justification. Medical examinations are also the means by which the Institution verifies the continuation and degree of the disability.

This is linked to Article 50, which makes establishing disability and determining its duration the job of the medical committees. Someone whose compensation was stopped and who believes they have a legitimate excuse can consult a lawyer specialized in social insurance matters.

Practical example

A worker in Dammam receives a daily allowance after a knee injury, and was asked to attend physiotherapy sessions, but he missed them without any excuse. In this case the Institution may stop paying him the daily allowance. If his absence were due to a legitimate excuse, this provision would not apply to him.

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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