Article 23 of the Saudi Social Security Law
المادة 23 من نظام الضمان الاجتماعي · الباب السادس: أحكام عامة
The article specifies the resources of social security: zakat funds collected by the State, the subsidy approved from the State treasury, and zakat, alms, endowment revenues, donations, and gifts provided to it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتكون موارد الضمان الاجتماعي مما يلي:
1- أموال الزكاة التي تجبيها الدولة.
2- الإعانة المعتمدة من خزينة الدولة.
3- ما يقدم له من زكوات وصدقات وعائدات أوقاف وتبرعات وهبات.
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 shows the sources of funding for social security, that is, where the money from which pensions are paid comes from. There are three resources:
- Zakat funds collected by the State.
- The subsidy approved from the State treasury.
- What is provided to social security in zakat, alms, endowment revenues, donations, and gifts.
From the third resource it is understood that social security can receive zakat, alms, donations, and gifts, in addition to endowment revenues, and its resources are not limited to what the State provides. The article did not specify the method or procedures for providing these funds.
Pensions are paid from these resources, and a pension under Article 1 is a monthly amount paid as social assistance to the beneficiary, and the beneficiary is any independent person or family to whom the Law applies. Note that the first resource is limited to zakat that the State collects, and the second is the subsidy approved from the State treasury.
The article is among the Law's general provisions, after Article 22, which governs the grievance committee, and before Article 24, which obliges the Minister to issue the Regulations within 120 days of the date the Law is published in the Official Gazette.
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 Security Law
Where does social security money come from?
From zakat funds collected by the State, the subsidy approved from the State treasury, and the zakat, alms, endowment revenues, donations, and gifts provided to it.
Can I donate to social security?
Yes. Among social security's resources are the zakat, alms, donations, gifts, and endowment revenues provided to it.
Is zakat one of social security's resources?
Yes. Zakat funds collected by the State, and zakat provided to social security, are among its resources.
More articles on Social Security Definitions and Objectives
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms of the Social Security Law, such as breadwinner, dependent, family, independent person, pension, calculated income, and rehabilitation.
لأغراض تطبيق هذا النظام، يقصد بالكلمات والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت فيه- المعاني المبينة أمامها، ما لم يقتض السياق غير ذلك: 1- الوزارة: وزارة الموارد البشرية وا
- Article 2
The article sets out the Social Security Law's objectives: addressing poverty, guaranteeing a minimum income, social protection, rehabilitation toward financial independence, and help in crises.
يهدف النظام إلى الآتي: 1- إرساء الوسائل والتدابير اللازمة لمعالجة حالات الفقر في المجتمع. 2- ضمان حد أدنى من الدخل يلبي الاحتياجات الأساسية لكل مستفيد من خلال ت
- Article 24
The article obliges the Minister to issue the Implementing Regulations of the Social Security Law within 120 days of publication of the Law in the Official Gazette, and they apply from the date the Law takes effect.
يصدر الوزير اللائحة خلال (مائة وعشرين) يوماً من تاريخ نشر النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل بها من تاريخ نفاذه.
- Article 25
The article provides that this Law replaces the Social Security Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/45 dated 7/7/1427 AH and repeals any provisions that conflict with it.
يحل النظام محل نظام الضمان الاجتماعي، الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي رقم (م / 45) وتاريخ 7 / 7 / 1427هـ، ويلغي كل ما يتعارض معه من أحكام.
- Article 26
The article provides that the Social Security Law applies after 120 days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
يعمل بالنظام بعد (مائة وعشرين) يوماً من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
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.