Inheritance rent and Citizen's Account: Will it affect your support?

Official clarification from the Citizen Account regarding rental income from inherited properties

The Citizen Account Program issued an important clarification regarding the impact of income generated from renting inherited properties on monthly support eligibility, thus answering inquiries from many beneficiaries who share ownership of inherited properties. The program emphasized, via its official account on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter), the necessity of disclosing any financial returns resulting from rental contracts registered in the beneficiary's name as the landlord, even if the contract was signed through a representative of the heirs.

The program clarified that these returns are included in the total household income, which is the primary factor used to determine a beneficiary's eligibility and the amount of financial support allocated to them. The program advised beneficiaries to use the "estimated calculator" available on the program's website, which allows them to enter their new income data to determine the expected impact on their monthly benefit before the eligibility results for the next cycle are released.

General context: The Citizen Account Program and its role in Vision 2030

The Citizen Account Program was launched in December 2017 as one of the key economic reform initiatives under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The program primarily aims to protect low- and middle-income Saudi families from the economic repercussions of structural reforms, such as adjustments to energy and water prices. It works to redirect government subsidies to reach those most in need directly and effectively, thereby enhancing the efficiency of government spending and contributing to social justice.

The program relies on a rigorous mechanism to assess applicants' eligibility, taking into account total family income, the number of family members, and their ages. Ongoing clarifications, such as those concerning the income of heirs, are part of the program's efforts to enhance transparency and ensure that support reaches those who truly need it.

The importance of clarification and its impact on beneficiaries

This clarification is particularly important given the prevalence of real estate inheritance in Saudi society, where a legal representative is often appointed to manage and lease the property on behalf of all heirs. This procedure underscores the principle of individual responsibility for each beneficiary to disclose their share of the income, regardless of how it was acquired.

Locally, this measure contributes to increasing the accuracy of data recorded by the program, preventing ineligible individuals from receiving support and ensuring its proper allocation. It also enhances citizens' financial awareness of the importance of disclosing all sources of income. On a broader level, this approach reflects the maturity of the Kingdom's digital government infrastructure and its ability to link data across various entities (such as the "Ejar" platform and the Ministry of Justice) to verify applicants' information, representing a significant step forward in implementing effective digital governance.

If the total family income exceeds the limit set by the program after adding rental income, the payment status for the beneficiary will show “None”, which means that the family is no longer eligible to receive support in that cycle.