Formula
What is the Citizen Account program?
حساب المواطن (Hesab Al-Muwaten / Citizen Account) is a Saudi government cash transfer program launched in December 2017 to offset the impact of energy and water subsidy reforms and the introduction of VAT. It provides direct monthly bank transfers to eligible Saudi households based on family size, dependent ages, and total household income. Administered by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the program registered over 3 million families in its first year and continues to support low and middle-income Saudi citizens. The program has been repeatedly extended by royal decree, most recently through the end of 2026.
Current 2026 monthly amounts
After the 'additional support' (الدعم الإضافي) extension, the documented amounts are: head of family (rab al-usra) 720 SAR; each adult dependent over 18 360 SAR; each child under 18 216 SAR. There is no fixed cap on the number of children or adult dependents counted, though field verification ensures all listed dependents actually reside with the household head. So a family of 5 (head + spouse + 3 children) would receive a base of 720 + 360 + 3 × 216 = 1,728 SAR/month if income is at or below the threshold for that family size.
Income thresholds and fade-out
The program uses a two-tier income model. Below the 'full-support threshold' (which scales with family size: ~1,100 SAR for a single person, +550 SAR per additional family member), the household receives the full base support. Above this threshold, support fades linearly to zero at the 20,000 SAR/month hard cutoff. 'Income' includes salary, business income, rental income, and other declared revenue - the program now integrates ZATCA data automatically, so all sources are visible to the system. Households whose income exceeds 20,000 SAR/month do not qualify regardless of family size.
Who qualifies (rab al-usra categories)
The head of family (rab al-usra) can be: a Saudi male citizen, a Saudi female citizen who is unmarried or whose husband is a non-Saudi, an unmarried Saudi parent (mother or father), a wife of a permanently-incapacitated husband, or an independent Saudi adult living alone. The dependent must reside permanently with the head in the Kingdom. Other criteria: ownership of more than 2 vehicles may reduce or remove eligibility; housing type and quality factor into the assessment; field visits verify the registered household composition. ZATCA-integrated income data is now a major component, so undeclared business or rental income that was previously not assessed is now counted.
How to register
Register at the official portal portal.ca.gov.sa with your absher account, the National ID of all household members, IBAN of your bank account, and address details. The official site has its own 'support estimator' (مقدِّر الدعم) tool, which is the binding reference. Payments are made monthly, usually on the 10th of each Gregorian month, directly to the registered bank account. If your circumstances change (income, family size, address), update the portal within 30 days to avoid overpayment recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Current 2026 monthly amounts (including the additional support extension): 720 SAR for the head of family, 360 SAR per adult dependent (18+), and 216 SAR per child under 18. So a family of 5 (head + spouse + 3 children) would receive a base of 720 + 360 + 3 × 216 = 1,728 SAR/month if their household income is at or below the threshold for that family size.
There are two limits: (1) The 'full support threshold' that scales with family size - approximately 1,100 SAR for 1 person, +550 SAR per additional family member. Below this, you get the full base support. (2) The hard cutoff at 20,000 SAR/month - above this, you receive no support regardless of family size. Between the two, support fades linearly. Income includes salary plus business and rental income (now visible to the system via ZATCA integration).
The head of family can be: a Saudi male citizen, a Saudi female citizen who is unmarried or whose husband is a non-Saudi, an unmarried Saudi parent, a wife of a permanently-incapacitated husband, or an independent Saudi adult. The head and all dependents must be Saudi citizens (with documented exceptions for Saudi mothers married to non-Saudis - the children still qualify).
Citizen Account (حساب المواطن) compensates for VAT and energy-subsidy reforms - it's a broad-based cash transfer for low and middle-income Saudis. Damman Ijtimai (الضمان الاجتماعي المطور / Social Security) is a poverty-relief program for the most vulnerable - lower income thresholds, higher per-person amounts. A household may receive BOTH programs simultaneously if eligible. Damman Ijtimai is also administered by the MHRSD but via a separate registration at damanaclt.hrsd.gov.sa.
Payments are deposited monthly, typically on the 10th of each Gregorian month, directly to the IBAN registered in the portal. Late payments occasionally occur near the start of the Hijri year and Eid holidays. Check the status of your payment at portal.ca.gov.sa or via Tawakkalna. If you don't receive your scheduled deposit, log in to the portal to check for any flagged verification issue (e.g., field-visit pending, missing document).
Sources
- Citizen Account Program - Official Portal— Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Saudi Arabia
- Citizen Account - Saudipedia (encyclopedic reference)— Saudipedia (Saudi government-affiliated encyclopedia)
- Royal Order extending the Citizen Account Program through 2026— Saudi Press Agency / Argaam coverage
- Citizen Account: Examples of Entitlement Value by Family Size and Income— Argaam (Saudi financial news)
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