Article 9 of the Saudi Social Security Law
المادة 9 من نظام الضمان الاجتماعي · الباب الثالث: آلية الاحتساب والاستحقاق
The article sets four conditions for entitlement to the pension: Saudi nationality and permanent residence, calculated income below the minimum, the wealth criteria, and compliance with the Ministry's requirements.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يستحق المعاش كل من استوفى الشروط الآتية:
1- أن يكون سعودياً مقيماً إقامة دائمة في المملكة، وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة من ضوابط.
2- أن يقل الدخل المحتسب للمستقل أو الأسرة عن الحد الأدنى المحتسب للمعاش.
3- أن تنطبق عليه معايير امتلاك واستخدام الثروة التي تحددها اللائحة.
4- أن يلتزم باستيفاء متطلبات الوزارة المتعلقة بالصحة، والتعليم، والتأهيل، والخدمة المجتمعية، وفقاً لما تحدده 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 9 explained in plain English
This is one of the most important articles of the Law, because it determines who is entitled to the social security pension. The following four conditions must all be met by the person:
- Nationality and residence: being a Saudi permanently resident in the Kingdom, under the rules set by the Regulations.
- Income: the calculated income of the independent person or family must be below the calculated minimum for the pension. Under Article 1, calculated income is a part of monthly income set for the purpose of calculating the pension, and the calculated minimum is a value set for calculating the pension, including increases and deductions.
- Wealth: the criteria for owning and using wealth set by the Regulations must apply to him, and wealth is the assets and funds capable of valuation owned by the independent person or family.
- Compliance with requirements: he must comply with the Ministry's requirements relating to health, education, rehabilitation, and community service, as the Regulations specify.
Entitlement therefore does not rest on low income alone, but is also tied to wealth and to compliance with the Ministry's requirements. Note that the details of the residence rules, the wealth criteria, and the requirements are left by the article to the Regulations, so their exact limits are not known from the Law itself.
The nationality condition has exceptions set out in Article 10, such as a non-Saudi woman married to a Saudi. The Ministry also follows up regularly on the beneficiary's situation to verify his entitlement and the amount of his pension under Article 8.
Practical example
Abdullah is a Saudi citizen living in Abha with his wife and children, and his family's calculated income is below the calculated minimum for the pension. To be entitled to the pension, his family must also meet the wealth criteria set by the Regulations, and he must comply with the Ministry's requirements on health, education, rehabilitation, and community service.
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 9 of the Saudi Social Security Law
What are the conditions for entitlement to the new social security?
Being a Saudi permanently resident, having calculated income below the calculated minimum for the pension, meeting the wealth criteria, and complying with the Ministry's requirements on health, education, rehabilitation, and community service.
Does owning assets or funds affect entitlement to social security?
Yes. One of the conditions is that the criteria for owning and using wealth set by the Regulations apply to the applicant.
Is a non-Saudi entitled to social security?
The rule is a requirement of Saudi nationality, with specific categories excepted under Article 10.
Must certain requirements be complied with for entitlement to continue?
Yes. Compliance with the Ministry's requirements relating to health, education, rehabilitation, and community service is required, as the Regulations specify.
More articles on Social Security Eligibility Conditions
- Article 10
The article excepts specific categories from the nationality requirement, including a non-Saudi woman married to a Saudi and a non-Saudi widow or divorcee with Saudi children.
يستثنى من شرط الجنسية الفئات الآتية: 1- المرأة غير السعودية المتزوجة من سعودي. 2- الأرملة أو المطلقة غير السعودية ولها أبناء سعوديون. 3- أبناء الأرملة أو المطلق
- Article 11
The article bars any beneficiary other than the breadwinner from being in more than one family, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
لا يجوز لأي مستفيد، غير العائل، أن يكون في أكثر من أسرة، وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
- Article 12
The article provides that each family of a breadwinner with several families is independent with its own pension, and that a family member studying outside the family's city does not affect its entitlement.
1- إذا كان للعائل أكثر من أسرة، فتُعدّ كل أسرة مستقلة وتستحق معاشاً مستقلاً، وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة. 2- لا يؤثر في استحقاق الأسرة للمعاش كون أحد أفرادها يقيم -
- Article 13
The article lets the family choose another qualified breadwinner if, under the Regulations' mechanism, the breadwinner is shown to lack capacity or to be incapacitated by an illness that makes it hard to manage the pension.
إذا ثبت -وفق الآلية التي تحددها اللائحة- عدم أهلية العائل أو عجزه لمرض يصعب معه التصرف في المعاش؛ فيجوز للأسرة أن تختار من تجد فيه الأهلية ليكون العائل.
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.