Article 22 of the Saudi Social Security Law
المادة 22 من نظام الضمان الاجتماعي · الباب السادس: أحكام عامة
The article governs the grievance committee formed by the Minister to hear grievances over delayed responses, rejection of an application, stopping of the pension, and repayment demands, with a further grievance before the Administrative Court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تكوّن بقرار من الوزير لجنة أو أكثر، لا يقل عدد أعضائها عن (ثلاثة) يكون من بينهم مستشارٌ نظامي، ويحدد القرار رئيس اللجنة، ومكافآت أعضائها، وأمين سرها.
2- تحدد قواعد وإجراءات عمل اللجنة بقرار من الوزير.
3- تختص اللجنة بالنظر فيما يقدم لها من تظلمات تتعلق بما يأتي:
أ- عدم إبلاغ الوزارة مقدم الطلب بقرارها خلال المدة المحددة في المادة (السادسة) من النظام.
ب- رفض الطلب أو إيقاف المعاش.
ج- طلب الوزارة من المستفيد إعادة ما تم صرفه له دون استحقاق.
4- تكون قرارات اللجنة نافذة من تاريخ صدورها.
5- يجوز التظلم من قرارات اللجنة أمام المحكمة الإدارية وفق نظامها.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article governs the route to object to social security decisions through a competent committee.
Forming the committee: one or more committees are formed by decision of the Minister, each with no fewer than 3 members, including a legal adviser. The decision specifies the committee's head, its members' remuneration, and its secretary, and the committee's rules and procedures of work are set by decision of the Minister.
The committee's jurisdiction: it hears the grievances submitted to it concerning:
- The Ministry's failure to notify the applicant of its decision within the period set in Article 6, which is 20 days from the date the application was submitted.
- Rejection of the application or stopping of the pension.
- The Ministry's request that the beneficiary return what was paid to him without entitlement.
The committee's decisions: they are effective from the date of issue, and a grievance may be filed against them before the Administrative Court under its law.
The route is therefore in two stages: a grievance first before the committee, then a grievance against its decision before the Administrative Court. The article did not set a period for submitting the grievance to the committee; that is among the committee's rules of work issued by decision of the Minister, while the deadlines for a grievance before the Administrative Court are governed by its law.
Anyone whose application was rejected or whose pension was stopped and who wants to file a grievance would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases and social security laws.
Practical example
Abu Saud's pension in Medina was stopped, and he believes the reason for stopping is incorrect. He submits his grievance to the grievance committee. If its decision rejecting his grievance is issued, its decision is effective from the date of issue, and he may file a grievance against it before the Administrative Court under its law.
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 22 of the Saudi Social Security Law
How do I object to the rejection of a social security application?
The grievance is submitted to the committee formed by decision of the Minister, which has jurisdiction over grievances against rejection of an application or stopping of the pension.
Can I file a grievance if the Ministry does not respond to my application?
Yes. The committee has jurisdiction over grievances about the Ministry's failure to notify the applicant of its decision within the period set in Article 6.
Can I object to a social security demand to repay amounts?
Yes. The committee has jurisdiction to hear grievances against the Ministry's request that a beneficiary return what was paid to him without entitlement.
Can a case be brought against a social security committee decision?
A grievance may be filed against the committee's decisions before the Administrative Court under its law.
Articles this article refers to
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.