King Salman raises basic minimum pension for social security beneficiaries

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz

The Saudi King issued directives today, Oct. 8, on raising the basic minimum pension for social security beneficiaries by 20%.

Meanwhile, the Citizen Account Program will remain in effect while adding certain factors to enhance support efficiency and ensure that benefits are received by the neediest groups.

Registration will remain open for Citizen Account Program beneficiaries to get additional financial support for three months until December 2023.

The decision was driven by King Salman’s keenness to alleviate burdens for citizens, based on the recommendations made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Separately, Mohammed Alrizqi, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), said the 20% increase in the social security pension will directly contribute to meeting the basic needs of beneficiaries.

The social security pension for family supporters will be SAR 1,320 instead of SAR 1,100, while dependents will get a pension of SAR 660, up from SAR 550.

The social security pension will cover qualified family members, but it will not exceed the pension cap per household, which is set at SAR 5,000.

The increase in the social security pension will be applied as of the next payment (23) on Nov. 1.

All beneficiaries will automatically receive this increase, Alrizqi added.