Muscat – More than 1.5mn people have directly benefited from the Social Protection Fund (SPF) till January this year.
The Social Protection Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2024, introduced direct cash benefits for eligible segments of society through SPF to provide a comprehensive social safety net for citizens across various stages of life.
These benefits, fully funded by the state’s public treasury, cover persons with disabilities, children, the elderly, orphans and widows.
Its aim is to ensure decent living standards and sustainable well-being for citizens, in alignment with Oman Vision 2040.
Till January 2025, the implementation of the childhood benefit supported approximately 1.237mn Omani children, from birth to 18 years of age.
The elderly benefit, designed to support senior citizens, covered 171,212 individuals, while the benefit for persons with disabilities was extended to 42,912 beneficiaries. Additionally, 16,338 beneficiaries received the orphan and widow benefit, showcasing the system’s wide-reaching support for vulnerable groups, an official commented.
The ‘family income support benefit’ has been crucial in assisting low-income groups. By providing financial assistance to bridge the gap between actual and targeted income, this support ensures that citizens in need are adequately helped.
To date, over 42,688 beneficiaries have received family income support, bringing the total number of recipients of the social protection benefit to 1.5mn.
The SPF also manages social insurance programmes, funded through contributions from both employers and workers. These programmes cover various contingencies, including elderly, disability, and death insurance, work injury and occupational disease insurance, job security insurance, maternity leave, sick leave, and savings systems.
By January, the number of active insured persons in both the private and government sectors reached 590,000.
Furthermore, the number of Omani retirees receiving pensions under the insurance scheme reached 124,750.
SPF continues to expand its partnerships, collaborating with 12 government institutions in 2024 to extend its social safety nets further. This expansion of the protection umbrella marks a key step toward creating a more inclusive social support system to cover a broader range of citizens.