Saudi- Budget boost for social support programs 

(MENAFN - Arab News) The Ministry of Social Affairs has announced that it has been allocated funds to construct 13 new buildings, in addition to SR 4 billion in financial assistance, as a result of last week's announcement of the Kingdom's massive annual state budget of which social welfare, health and development projects were the focus.

"Due to budget contributions for the new fiscal year, the ministry will be able to construct a number of social security centers in the cities of Riyadh, Hail, Laith and Ahsa, as well as an autism center in Riyadh, an office for Social Affairs in the Jouf region, an office in Ahsa for a women's care institute and a brand new office to be opened in Zulfi as a comprehensive rehabilitation center, to name a few," Mohammed bin Ibrahim Awad, spokesman for the Ministry of Social Affairs, said.

Awad added that in addition, the ministry's Social Development Center has already adopted the development of new buildings for social development centers in Tabuk, Najran and Dir'iyya.

The spokesman also explained that the allocated SR 4 billion in financial support would serve as social security benefits, assistance for the disabled and to supply medical aid.

The Saudi budget, which projects a total expenditure in 2013 of SR 820 billion, allocated a total of SR 100 billion, an increase of 16 percent over the fiscal year of 2012 allocation to health and social affairs and is expected to "continue to focus on investment programs that enhance long-term sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities for citizens," according to a statement from the Finance Ministry.

Other annual social support programs being sponsored by the Ministry of Social Affairs include the social security-based Cash Assistance for Food Program, which recently deposited SR 136.05 million into the accounts of beneficiaries for the current Hijri month of Safar, a monthly average.

The Cash Assistance for Food Program is just one of seven monthly programs aimed at supporting needy families in the Kingdom. The remaining six programs cover home furnishings, school supplies, partial payments of electric bills, health insurance, production projects and home restoration projects and are separate benefits from the regular monthly payments paid to eligible beneficiaries such as widows, orphans, abandoned family members and persons with temporary or permanent debilitating health conditions or disabilities.