Insurance: 1983 riyals minimum benefit for the prisoner's family and disbursement conditions

In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's deep commitment to strengthening its social protection system, the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) has launched a comprehensive procedural guide for the "Prisoner's Family Benefit." This step clarifies the details of the financial support available to the families of Saudi subscribers whose breadwinner's imprisonment prevents them from meeting their basic needs, revealing a minimum pension exceeding 1,983 riyals, as part of its efforts to bridge the financial gap and ensure a decent standard of living for affected families.

Details of financial support and eligibility requirements

The regulations stipulate that eligibility for this benefit is limited to the families of Saudi subscribers subject to the social insurance system, provided the subscriber has stopped working due to imprisonment, has not reached retirement age, and has received specific court rulings. The institution has detailed the type of support based on the subscriber's service record

• Continuous monthly pension: It is paid if the subscriber has a service balance exceeding 120 months, and has been sentenced to imprisonment or his suspension has continued for 3 months or more.
• Lump sum compensation (one payment): is paid if the subscription periods are less than 120 months, provided that the issued sentence is imprisonment for a period of 5 years or more.

Regarding the financial value, the institution confirmed that a minimum protection ceiling of no less than 1,983.75 Saudi Riyals for the pension has been set, to ensure the provision of a subsistence level and to protect the family from destitution.

Strategic context and social impact

This announcement cannot be viewed in isolation from the fundamental transformations taking place in the Kingdom under Vision 2030, which prioritizes quality of life and social protection. The Kingdom's social insurance system is a regional leader, having evolved over decades to cover a range of risks beyond retirement and disability, including family security in exceptional circumstances.

This benefit has extremely important social and humanitarian dimensions; it contributes to maintaining the cohesion of the family fabric and prevents families from slipping into poverty as a result of the absence of a breadwinner, which enhances social stability and reduces the negative psychological and educational effects that may befall the children.

Disbursement mechanism and digital transformation

The institution established a precise timeframe for disbursement, beginning the month following the subscriber's imprisonment or three months after their arrest. Support continues throughout the sentence and extends for an additional three months after release to give the family time to adjust. The system also demonstrates flexibility, allowing for the automatic conversion of the benefit into a retirement benefit upon the subscriber reaching retirement age while incarcerated.

In line with the digital transformation strategy, the institution has made it possible to apply through the "GOSI" digital platform, where the legal representative can upload the required documents (judgment deed, proofs of identity, school certificates for children) and complete the procedures without the need to visit the branches, which reflects the efficiency of the digital infrastructure for government services in the Kingdom.