Developed Social Security 2026: Eligibility, Registration, and Calculation

The Developed Social Security programme provides a monthly pension for Saudi households whose income falls below a minimum-living threshold. It launched in November 2020 as a comprehensive reform of the old Social Security scheme, and is managed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) via sbis.hrsd.gov.sa.

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:

1. Nationality: Saudi citizen or in the same category.
2. Residency: Inside the Kingdom (absence not exceeding the allowed limit, typically 90 days per year).
3. Independence: Independent housing via rental contract or title deed under the head of household's name, or documented independence within an extended-family home.
4. 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 We don't publish outdated numbers because they mislead.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 |

The eligibility decision is typically issued within 30 working days, notified by SMS and via the portal.

Payment schedule

Payment is officially made on the 1st of each Gregorian month. If that day falls on a public holiday or Friday, payment moves to the previous working day. 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 60 days of the decision, via the "Objection" service on the portal. The appeal decision is issued within 30 working days. If the appeal is rejected, you may escalate to the Administrative Grievances Committee or file a complaint via the Tawasul government portal.

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

Companion Programs Bundled With Social Security

An approved Social Security beneficiary automatically qualifies for a set of complementary programs, without needing separate registration in each:

| Program | What it provides | Managing entity | |---|---|---| | Low-income electricity subsidy | Discount on monthly electricity bill | Saudi Electricity Company | | Free healthcare | Government hospital access without fees | Ministry of Health | | Educational support for children | Assistance with university fees | HRDF | | Housing support via Sakani | Priority in housing-unit allocation | Ministry of Housing | | Emergency assistance | Urgent financial help for critical cases | Ministry of Human Resources | | Free Doroob courses | Professional training to raise employment chances | HRDF |

These programs activate automatically when your file is approved in Social Security. If you're registered but haven't found any activated, check the Social Security portal or the responsible entity.

Special Categories and 2024-2026 Updates

Since 2024, the Ministry of Human Resources introduced important improvements to Social Security, most notably:

Double Support for Orphans

A family caring for orphans (lost both parents or the providing father) receives:

• Doubled living-cost threshold for each orphan under 18.
• Continued support past adulthood if they are students or disabled.
• Free healthcare for the entire family unconditionally.

Source: Ministerial decree cited on sbis.hrsd.gov.sa and within the system's executive regulations.

Support for People with Disabilities

Those officially registered at the King Salman Center for Disability Research or recognized associations receive:

• Periodic supplement to the benefit based on disability degree.
• Special allowance for a caregiver/companion if the case requires.
• Exemption from transportation and treatment fees at government facilities.

Widows and Divorced Mothers

An independent woman (widow or divorcee) supporting children receives:

• Preferential treatment in review for faster case resolution.
• Additional support per child in custody.
• Simplified proof-of-independence compared to other cases.

When Your New Job Conflicts With Social Security

If you get a paid job after being approved for Social Security, it doesn't mean immediate cancellation of support. The system recalculates:

1. Your new income + Social Security must not exceed the living-cost threshold.
2. If you exceed it — Social Security decreases gradually, not eliminated at once.
3. Part-time/temporary work: register it as variable income and it's recalculated monthly.
4. Disclosure is mandatory: not informing Social Security of your new job within 30 days = retroactive fund recovery + penalties.

This flexibility encourages beneficiaries to work rather than fully depending on Social Security.

Sources:

• Developed Social Security portal — sbis.hrsd.gov.sa
• Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development — hrsd.gov.sa
• General Authority for Statistics — stats.gov.sa (for annual living-cost data).