The Citizen Account Program specifies mechanisms for retroactive compensation to beneficiaries
The Citizen Account Program announced the specific cases in which beneficiaries are eligible for retroactive financial compensation, emphasizing its commitment to ensuring that support reaches those who deserve it fairly and transparently. This clarification comes as part of the program's ongoing efforts to improve its mechanisms and respond to citizens' inquiries and objections, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the government support system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
What are the cases in which support payments are made retroactively?
The program clarified through its official platforms that retroactive compensation payments are limited to specific cases related to objections submitted by beneficiaries, and are mainly divided into two types:
- Financial objections: If the beneficiary submits an objection to the value of the financial payment received, and the competent authorities review and approve the request, the beneficiary will be compensated for the value of the differences from the previous payments that were included in the objection.
- Eligibility Appeals: When an appeal is submitted regarding ineligibility, acceptance of the appeal means the beneficiary will be included in the next eligibility cycle. Compensation for the previous period is subject to individual review of each case according to the program's established rules and criteria, and is not automatic.
General context: The Citizen Account as a tool to achieve Vision 2030
The Citizen Account Program was launched in December 2017 as one of the most important government initiatives accompanying the economic transformation program within the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The program primarily aims to protect low- and middle-income Saudi families from the direct and indirect effects of economic reforms, such as adjustments to energy and water prices and the implementation of value-added tax (VAT).
The program aims to redirect government support to reach those most in need, rather than the blanket support that benefited everyone regardless of income level. By providing direct cash assistance to families, the program contributes to strengthening citizens' purchasing power and alleviating the burdens of living resulting from economic changes.
The economic and social importance of the program
The Citizen Account program plays a pivotal role in strengthening the social safety net in the Kingdom, providing additional income to eligible families and helping them meet their basic needs. Economically, this direct support stimulates domestic consumption, positively impacting market activity and the private sector.
The program also represents a qualitative leap in government support policies, through the adoption of an advanced electronic mechanism that ensures accuracy and transparency in identifying beneficiaries and disbursing funds, based on specific criteria that include the total family income, the number of family members and their ages.
How to inquire about payment details
To make things easier for beneficiaries, the program allows them to view all the details of financial payments through the electronic portal or the official application, through simple steps:
- Log in to the beneficiary's account on the Citizen Account portal.
- Go to the “Beneficiary File” section.
- Select “Financial Payments” to view a history of past and current payments.
If the payment status appears as “None”, this means that the total household income has exceeded the limit preventing access to support, which is determined based on the household composition.
