Formula
What is الضمان الاجتماعي المطور (Developed Social Security)?
The Developed Social Security System (الضمان الاجتماعي المطور) was launched in November 2021 by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) as a major upgrade to Saudi Arabia's older basic social security program. It is a means-tested poverty-relief cash transfer for Saudi citizens with low income - distinct from the broader Citizen Account program. The 'developed' label reflects the move from fixed-category support (orphans, elderly, etc.) to a case-by-case assessment that considers the entire household's income, composition, and assets.
Maximum support amounts (the threshold)
The maximum monthly support a household can receive depends on family composition: head of family (rab al-usra) 1,100 SAR; each adult dependent (≥18) 550 SAR; each child under 18 330 SAR. So a family of 5 (head + spouse + 3 children) has a maximum threshold of 1,100 + 550 + 3 × 330 = 2,640 SAR. This is the CEILING - actual payment equals threshold minus assessed income, with a floor of zero.
How income is deducted (the 50% wage exemption)
Assessed monthly income = (wages × 50%) + (other income × 100%). The 50% wage discount is a deliberate work incentive - if you earn 1,000 SAR from a part-time job, only 500 SAR counts against your benefit. Other income (rental, business, pensions, allowances) is counted at 100%. This 'negative income tax' structure means working never makes you worse off than not working: every extra SAR you earn replaces 0.5 SAR of benefit (so net income still rises by 0.5 SAR per earned SAR).
Who qualifies
Eligibility requires: (1) Saudi citizenship (head of family must be Saudi; dependents must be Saudi or qualifying exceptions like children of a Saudi mother and non-Saudi father). (2) Permanent residence in the Kingdom. (3) Assessed household income below the maximum threshold for your family size. (4) Not owning more than 2 vehicles. (5) Asset disclosure compliant with the program. (6) Active job-seeking for working-age beneficiaries (employment training and placement programs are integrated). The program targets the genuinely needy; field verification and ZATCA-integrated income data prevent abuse.
Difference from Citizen Account (حساب المواطن)
Both are MHRSD programs but target different populations. Citizen Account = broad-based VAT/subsidy compensation for low and middle-income Saudis, with a fixed base payment per family member that fades out gradually up to 20,000 SAR/month household income. Developed Social Security = poverty-relief safety net using a strict negative-income-tax formula, with the threshold being the CAP rather than a base. A household CAN qualify for both programs simultaneously if eligible (the registrations are separate at portal.ca.gov.sa and sbis.hrsd.gov.sa). For most poor households, Social Security pays significantly more than Citizen Account.
How to register
Apply at sbis.hrsd.gov.sa (or my.gov.sa under 'Social Protection / Developed Social Security'). Required: Absher account, National IDs of all household members, IBAN of bank account, declared income from all sources, dependent documentation (birth certificates for children). Monthly disbursements typically on the 1st-5th of each Hijri or Gregorian month. The portal includes its own 'eligibility checker' (مقدِّر الأهلية) which is the binding reference. Update the portal within 30 days of any income, address, or family-composition change.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on family size and household income. The MAXIMUM monthly support thresholds are: 1,100 SAR for head of family, 550 SAR per adult dependent (18+), 330 SAR per child under 18. So a family of 5 (head + spouse + 3 children) has a maximum of 2,640 SAR/month. The ACTUAL payment is this maximum minus assessed income (wages × 50% + other income × 100%). If a household earns zero, they receive the full maximum.
Assessed income = wage income × 50% + other income × 100%. The 50% wage discount is the program's 'earned income exemption' - a deliberate work incentive. So if you earn 2,000 SAR from a job, only 1,000 SAR counts. Rental, business, pension, and allowance income are counted at 100%. The system pulls real income data automatically from ZATCA, the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI), and bank records.
Citizen Account is a broad subsidy program for low and middle-income Saudis to offset VAT and energy reforms - fixed base payment per family member with gradual fade-out up to 20,000 SAR household income. Developed Social Security is a strict poverty-relief safety net using a 'negative income tax' formula - the maximum is the CEILING and is reduced 1-for-1 (with the 50% wage exemption) by your income. A household CAN qualify for BOTH simultaneously. Registrations are separate.
The head must be a Saudi citizen, permanently resident in the Kingdom, and head of an independent household. Categories include: independent Saudi adults, married Saudi men, Saudi women who are unmarried or have a non-Saudi husband, divorced/widowed Saudi women, orphans aged 18+, and persons with permanent disabilities. Children of a Saudi mother and non-Saudi father can be counted as dependents.
Several reasons: (1) Field visits flag undeclared dependents, missing residents, or unreported income. (2) ZATCA-integrated business and rental income that you may not have disclosed. (3) Vehicle ownership over 2 vehicles reduces eligibility. (4) Housing type and size factor in. (5) Recent program updates may change the maximum thresholds. The official sbis.hrsd.gov.sa eligibility checker is the binding source - always log in there for your exact entitlement.
Sources
- Developed Social Security System - MHRSD Official Service— Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Saudi Arabia
- Developed Social Security System - National Portal— my.gov.sa - Government of Saudi Arabia
- Social Protection Programs— Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
- ISSA Country Profile - Saudi Arabia 2022— International Social Security Association
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