Citizen Account: 4 cases for registering the wife as the primary beneficiary
The Citizen Account Program has reaffirmed the regulations and criteria governing beneficiary registration, highlighting in particular the exceptional cases that grant a wife the right to apply for registration as a "primary beneficiary" rather than as a dependent of her husband. This clarification comes as part of the program's commitment to ensuring that support reaches those who truly deserve it and to meeting the needs of families facing special social circumstances.
Cases in which the wife is entitled to register as the primary beneficiary
The program clarified via the "X" platform that the default registration requirement is for the husband to be the head of the household, but there are 4 specific cases that have been made exceptions to enable the wife to take control of the family's financial affairs in the program, which are:
- Absent husband: In the event that there is proof of the husband's absence and abandonment of the family.
- Incapacitated husband: If the husband suffers from a health or mental condition that prevents him from managing family affairs.
- Non-Saudi husband: A female citizen married to a foreigner has the right to register as the primary beneficiary and add the husband and children as dependents.
- The imprisoned husband: to ensure the continued support of the family during the husband's sentence.
These cases require the submission of official supporting documents that confirm the situation (such as a deed of abandonment, a guardianship deed, or proof of the husband's imprisonment) to ensure the application is accepted.
Program context and its economic and social importance
The Citizen Account Program, launched in December 2017, is a cornerstone of the social protection system established by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030. The program was established as a proactive step to mitigate the direct and indirect effects of various economic reforms, such as energy and water price adjustments and the implementation of value-added tax (VAT). Its primary objective is to redirect government subsidies to be more efficient and equitable, targeting those most deserving of direct cash assistance.
The social impact of wife empowerment
The decision to allow the wife to register as the primary beneficiary in the aforementioned cases carries profound social and humanitarian dimensions. It ensures that the family and children's financial lifeline remains uninterrupted in the event of the father's absence or incapacity, thus strengthening family stability and protecting vulnerable groups from financial hardship. This measure reflects the flexibility of government systems in addressing diverse social changes, placing the interests of the Saudi family above all else.
How to find out the reasons for ineligibility via the application
In a related context, the program called on beneficiaries who receive a "not eligible" status to verify the reasons for addressing them, through easy technical steps via the official application:
- Log in to the Citizen Account application on smartphones.
- Click on the "Eligibility" icon located in the application interface.
- Review your current eligibility status and click on the "Details" option.
- Review the ineligibility code and the explanation of the reason attached to it, in order to be able to submit an objection or update the missing data.
