MLSD Minister praises the directives of His Highness the Prime Minister to double the social security assistance and the disability allowance for the month of Ramadan

09-04-2020

His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, commended the generous directives of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, may God protect him, assigning the Ministry of Labour and Social Development to double the value of social security allocations benefiting 17,000 Bahraini families who receive social security benefits, to double the value of the disability allowance benefiting 12,000 persons with disabilities registered on the Ministry of Labour and Social Development’s rolls, and to allocate a budget of 5.5 million Bahraini dinars to implement His Highness’s two generous orders, with the doubled benefits to be disbursed in mid‑April, on the occasion of the approaching holy month of Ramadan. Humaidan affirmed that the Ministry of Labour and Social Development has immediately commenced implementing the order of His Highness the Prime Minister, and that the amounts due to citizens entitled to social security assistance and disability allowance will be transferred to their accounts on 15 April. Humaidan stated that these generous directives from His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, which coincide with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan, are not new to His Highness, but rather accord with his long‑standing practice, and His Highness’s great and continuous interest in supporting the standard of living of citizens and ensuring a decent living for them, especially for the most needy segments of society. He noted that this comes in light of His Highness’s direct and continuous follow‑up of their living conditions, and his constant efforts to ensure a decent life for citizens and meet their needs on all occasions, help them manage their living affairs by providing their necessities for the holy month, and alleviate the financial burdens they face in a way that guarantees a decent and stable life for all. Humaidan explained that the number of beneficiaries of social security assistance totals 17,000 families from the categories specified by Law No. (18) of 2006 with respect to Social Security, who do not have a source of income, or do not have sufficient income to depend on in managing their daily living affairs, and include the family, widows, divorced women, abandoned women, the elderly, people with disabilities and those unable to work, unmarried girl, and orphans, stressing that an amount of up to 3 million Bahraini dinars will be transferred to their bank accounts. Regarding the disability allowance, His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development stated that this assistance, which is disbursed to those entitled to it in the amount of 100 dinars per month, will be doubled to 200 dinars on the occasion of the month of Ramadan, in accordance with Ministerial Resolution No. (24) of 2008, 2008 regarding criteria for eligibility for a disability pension, which defined the classification of disabilities to include physical disability, mental disability, visual disability, hearing disability, autism, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities. He indicated in this context that the number of beneficiaries of the disability allowance totals 12,000 citizens with disabilities (People of Determination), and an amount of up to 2.5 million Bahraini dinars will be transferred to their bank accounts, to cover the regular monthly allowance and the additional allowance. On this occasion, the Minister of Labour and Social Development expressed his deep thanks and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the country's great king, may God protect and preserve him, His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy King, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, for their great interest and constant support for citizens, especially the most needy groups, in order to secure a decent living for them.