Article 4 of the Saudi Social Security Law
المادة 4 من نظام الضمان الاجتماعي · الباب الثاني: التقديم وتحديد الاحتياج
The article treats submitting a pension application as the applicant's consent to the Ministry obtaining information relating to it from government or private bodies.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعد تقديم طلب المعاش موافقة على حصول الوزارة على المعلومات المتعلقة به من الجهات الحكومية أو الخاصة. وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات المتبعة في ذلك.
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 4 explained in plain English
This article addresses the matter of the data and information tied to a social security pension application. By the mere submission of the application, that is considered the applicant's consent to the Ministry obtaining information relating to the application from:
- Government bodies.
- Private bodies.
In practical terms, the applicant does not need to give a separate permission for each body, because the Law made the application itself the consent. This enables the Ministry to verify the income, wealth, and circumstances on which entitlement is based, instead of relying on what the person provides alone.
But the article limits this consent to information relating to the application, and refers to the Implementing Regulations to specify the procedures followed in that, so how information is requested and exchanged is found in the Regulations.
This article is linked to Article 3, which requires the application to be submitted to the competent department of the Ministry with the data and documents, and to Article 5, which assigns the Ministry to collect data on the situations of independent persons and families and examine them to estimate entitlement, through applications and additional data held by government bodies, associations, civil institutions, and others. Anyone who applies should know that his situation will be examined from multiple sources.
Practical example
Fahd applied for a social security pension and stated that he has no income. Under this article, the Ministry is entitled to obtain information relating to his application from government or private bodies, without asking him for new consent, because his submitting the application is considered consent to that.
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 4 of the Saudi Social Security Law
Is social security entitled to see my information?
Yes. Submitting a pension application is considered consent to the Ministry obtaining information relating to the application from government or private bodies.
Do I need to sign a separate consent for each body?
The article made submitting the application itself the consent. The procedures for obtaining information are set by the Implementing Regulations.
What information does the Ministry obtain?
The article refers to information relating to the pension application, without giving a specific list, and refers the procedures to the Regulations.
More articles on Applying for Social Security
- Article 3
The article requires the pension application to be submitted to the competent department of the Ministry with supporting data and documents, and leaves the procedural details and documents to the Implementing Regulations.
تُقدم طلبات المعاش إلى الجهة المختصة في الوزارة، متضمنة البيانات والمستندات اللازمة التي تدعم طلب المعاش. وتحدد اللائحة إجراءات تقديم الطلب والبيانات والشروط وا
- Article 5
The article assigns the Ministry to collect data on the situations of independent persons and families and examine them to estimate entitlement, from applications and the data of government bodies, associations, civil institutions, and others.
تتولى الوزارة جمع البيانات لمعرفة حالات المستقلين والأسر ودراستها لغرض تقدير الاستحقاق، وذلك من خلال الطلبات المقدمة إليها والبيانات الإضافية التي لدى الجهات ال
- Article 6
The article requires the Ministry to notify the applicant within 20 days of submission of its decision to accept the application under the entitlement criteria or to reject it with reasons.
تُبلغ الوزارة مقدم الطلب خلال (عشرين) يومًا من تاريخ تقديمه بقرارها بقبول الطلب وفقًا لمعايير الاستحقاق، أو برفضه مع التسبيب. وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات المتبعة في
- Article 7
The original applicant and the beneficiary must notify the Ministry within 15 days of any change in their circumstances that affects entitlement to the pension or its amount.
على مقدم الطلب الأصيل والمستفيد إبلاغ الوزارة بأي تغيير في أوضاع أي منهما يؤثر على استحقاقهما للمعاش أو مقداره، وذلك خلال (خمسة عشر) يوماً من تاريخ التغيير.
- Article 8
The article requires the Ministry to follow up regularly on the beneficiary's situation to verify continued entitlement to the pension and the correctness of its amount, and refers its regulation to the Regulations.
على الوزارة القيام بمتابعة منتظمة لحالة المستفيد للتأكد من مدى استحقاقه للمعاش ومقداره. وتحدد اللائحة الأحكام المنظمة لذلك.
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.

