The Citizen Account Program in Saudi Arabia, one of the most important government support programs, clarified important details regarding the impact of income from inherited real estate on beneficiaries' eligibility and entitlement. This clarification came in response to an inquiry about whether the signature of a representative of the heirs on a lease agreement for a jointly owned property affects the support provided to one of the heirs benefiting from the program.
Through its official account on the “X” platform, the program emphasized the necessity of disclosing all income sources for the primary beneficiary and their dependents, including income from real estate. The program stated, “If you have a lease registered in your name as the landlord, you are required to disclose the property's income in your account.” It added that this income will be included in the total household income, which is used to determine the monthly benefit amount. To estimate the support amount after adding the new income, the program recommended using the “estimated calculator” available on its official website.
General context of the Citizen Account program
The Citizen Account Program was launched in December 2017 as a key initiative within the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Its primary objective is to protect low- and middle-income Saudi families from the economic repercussions of structural reforms implemented by the government, such as adjustments to energy and water prices. The program works to redirect government support to reach those most in need directly and effectively by providing monthly cash assistance deposited directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts.
The importance of disclosure and its impact on eligibility
The importance of this clarification lies in its addressing a common situation concerning the management of inherited property, where a legal representative manages and leases the property on behalf of all heirs. Through this clarification, the program emphasizes the principle of transparency and the individual responsibility of each beneficiary to report their share of any new income, even if it originates from joint ownership.
Failure to disclose this type of income may lead to discrepancies between the data registered with the program and the beneficiary's actual information, potentially resulting in the suspension of support or ineligibility. The program conducts periodic reviews of beneficiary data through electronic linkage with relevant government agencies to ensure accuracy. If the total family income, including real estate income, exceeds the program's eligibility limit, the payment status may appear as "None," indicating that the family is no longer eligible for support due to exceeding the permitted income ceiling.
The eligibility threshold and the amount of support vary from family to family based on two main factors: the family's total monthly income and its composition in terms of the number and ages of its members. Therefore, the program always emphasizes the need to update data immediately whenever there is a change in the family's financial or social situation to ensure continued support and avoid any ineligibility measures.
