JEDDAH — The Ministry of Social Affairs has discovered a number of ineligible clients receiving the ministry's social insurance for the disabled. Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Abdullah Al-Muaigil said after connecting the ministry's database with the General Organization of Social Insurance the ministry was able to detect discrepancies in some accounts. “Some of the recipients of the ministry's social insurance and aid for the disabled had forged their medical documents and registered for the benefits when they are healthy,” said Al-Muaigil. He added the ministry gives aid depending on the severity of the client's health. “For those who become better, the ministry stops funding them once they are able to fund themselves. For those whose disability worsens with time, the ministry offers them higher amounts of financial aid.” He also said the ministry does not force disabled social insurance clients to visit a rehabilitation center to update their information. “The update happens automatically when they go to renew their bank account cards. The update is a review of the medical condition of the client and whether he still needs the ministry's aid.” He added there are around 500,000 Saudis on the ministry's disabled social insurance but only a small number of them are ineligible for it. “We run inspection campaigns in which we visit the applicant to check on his condition. To apply for the aid, the disabled individual must register with a rehabilitation center to ensure that he is eligible then submit a report issued by a public hospital and approved by the Ministry of Health.” He said if the ministry found any discrepancies or forged documents, the applicants are forwarded to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution. “We have more strict regulations now as applicants must show up personally with a guardian at one of our offices. “We update the information every three years but the new shared database will expedite the process as clients who have passed away will be automatically dropped from the system.”
