Developed Social Security 2026: Eligibility, Registration, and Calculation
Complete guide to Saudi Arabia's Developed Social Security — eligibility criteria, registration via sbis.hrsd.gov.sa, how the monthly benefit is calculated, and payment schedule.
The Developed Social Security programme provides a monthly pension for Saudi households whose income falls below a minimum-living threshold. It was issued by Royal Decree (M/32) dated 2/4/1442 AH, and applications opened on 20 November 2021 as a comprehensive reform of the old Social Security scheme. It is managed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) via sbis.hrsd.gov.sa. Source: Saudi Press Agency launch announcement.
Old vs. developed Social Security
| Criterion | Old scheme | Developed scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Calculation basis | Fixed lump per case | Gap between income and minimum-living threshold |
| Assessment | Static periodic | Dynamic by household size and income |
| Data sources | Mostly manual declaration | Automated links to Absher, banks, records |
| Review | Every few years | Monthly if income changes |
| Priority groups | Predefined lists | Computed mathematically by need |
Who qualifies?
Eligibility is assessed on four joint criteria:
- Nationality: Saudi citizen or in the same category.
- Residency: Inside the Kingdom (absence not exceeding the allowed limit, typically 90 days per year).
- Independence: Independent housing via rental contract or title deed under the head of household's name, or documented independence within an extended-family home.
- Income and assets: Total household income below the minimum-living threshold, and assets (property, vehicles, deposits) within the cap.
Priority categories (given special treatment in review and disbursement): orphans, divorced women, widows, elderly (60+), people with disabilities, prisoners' families, and accident victims unable to work.
How the monthly benefit is calculated
The formula:
Benefit = minimum-living threshold (by household size) − actual household income
The minimum-living threshold is set annually by MHRSD and varies with household size:
| Household size | Monthly threshold (illustrative) |
|---|---|
| 1 (head only) | Base |
| 2 | Base + adult dependent |
| 3 | Base + 2 dependents (adult + child) |
| 4+ | Additional amount per extra dependent |
Note: Actual figures update annually via ministerial decree. We don't publish outdated numbers because they mislead. Use the official calculator on sbis.hrsd.gov.sa for current amounts.
Registration steps
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open sbis.hrsd.gov.sa and choose "New Registration" |
| 2 | Sign in with National Single Sign-On or Absher account |
| 3 | Complete head-of-household and dependent details (data pulls from Absher) |
| 4 | Specify marital status accurately (married/divorced/widowed/independent single) |
| 5 | Attach proof of housing (rental contract registered in Ejar, or title deed) |
| 6 | Attach income sources: salary/GOSI/commercial/other |
| 7 | Attach bank account details under head of household's name |
| 8 | Review the summary and submit |
Applicants are notified of the eligibility result by SMS and portal alert. Results are issued periodically within the Ministry's monthly cycles.
Payment schedule
Payment is officially made on the 1st of each Gregorian month. Weekend rule:
- If the 1st falls on Friday → paid on Thursday (day before).
- If the 1st falls on Saturday → paid on Sunday (day after).
Funds are deposited via the Madad system into the bank account registered under the head of household's name.
Post-approval obligations
- Disclose income changes within 30 days: any new job, salary change, or new income source must be updated — otherwise it counts as concealment.
- Continued residency in the Kingdom: prolonged absence suspends payment.
- Annual review: beneficiaries must log in yearly to update their file.
Appealing a rejection or benefit reduction
You have the right to appeal within 90 days of the eligibility result, via the "Objection" service on the portal, with supporting documents. Appeal review takes up to 60 days from submission. Only one appeal per eligibility cycle is allowed, and if it is rejected you cannot resubmit for 12 months.
Social Security vs. Citizen Account
| Criterion | Developed Social Security | Citizen Account |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Guarantee minimum living standard | Offset fuel/energy price reform |
| Basis | Income gap vs. living threshold | Graduated design by income |
| Payment day | 1st of each month | 10th of each month |
| Managed by | MHRSD | MHRSD (separate arm) |
| Combining both | Allowed — neither requires the other |
Related articles
- Citizen Account — eligibility and calculation
- Sakani housing — programmes and eligibility
- Saudi labour law — core rights
Priority Categories
The executive regulations grant priority categories special treatment in review and disbursement:
- Orphans: children who have lost one or both parents.
- Widows and divorced women and other independent heads of household.
- Elderly citizens aged 60+.
- People with disabilities officially registered in the National Disability Registry via the Ministry of Human Resources.
- Families of prisoners and equivalents.
- People unable to work due to accidents or chronic illness.
For the official regulatory text of priority categories and rights, see the Executive Regulations of the Social Security System on the Ministry's site.
When Your New Job Conflicts With Social Security
If you get a paid job after being approved for Social Security, support is not cancelled immediately. The system recalculates:
- Your new income is added to household income, and the gap between total income and the minimum-living threshold is recomputed.
- If income exceeds the threshold, benefit stops; if it stays below, benefit continues at a reduced amount.
- Disclosure is mandatory: failing to report income changes leads to retroactive fund recovery per the executive regulations.
Sources:
- Developed Social Security portal — sbis.hrsd.gov.sa
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development — hrsd.gov.sa
- Service page on the National Portal
- Executive Regulations of the Social Security System
- Ministry launch announcement — Saudi Press Agency
- General Authority for Statistics — stats.gov.sa (for annual living-cost data).
الأسئلة الشائعة
The developed programme was issued by Royal Decree (M/32) dated 2/4/1442 AH, and applications opened on **20 November 2021** — replacing the old scheme. Key difference: the old scheme paid a fixed lump per case; the developed one calculates the gap between actual household income and a minimum-living threshold and pays that gap monthly.
Saudi citizens (or those in the same category) residing in the Kingdom, whose household income falls below the minimum-living threshold and whose assets are within the allowed caps. Priority groups: orphans, divorced women, widows, elderly, people with disabilities, and prisoners' families.
There is no fixed amount. The benefit equals the difference between total household income and the minimum-living threshold, which itself depends on household size. The threshold is updated annually by the Ministry of Finance.
On the 1st of each Gregorian month. If the 1st falls on a **Friday**, payment moves to **Thursday** (day before); if it falls on a **Saturday**, it moves to **Sunday** (day after). Funds are deposited in the bank account registered under the head of household's name.
Yes, provided they are independent from their original family (housing and income), and meet the remaining criteria. Applicants under legal age are not accepted separately except in documented exceptional cases.
Part of the series: Social Support
Article 2 of 3Citizen Account, the developed social security programme, and the Reef programme — eligibility and how payments are calculated.
- 1.Citizen Account 2026: Eligibility, Calculation, and Registration StepsPillar guide
- 2.Developed Social Security 2026: Eligibility, Registration, and Calculation
- 3.Saudi Reef Programme 2026: Registration, Support Types, and Disbursement
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