Pension organization: Your comprehensive guide to civilian and military services after the merger at GOSI

Pension organization: Your comprehensive guide after the merger with the Social Insurance (GOSI)

Welcome to your one-stop guide to the Public Pension Agency. If you're looking for information about retirement services for civilian or military employees, you've likely noticed significant changes in recent years. Perhaps the most notable of these changes is the full integration of the Public Pension Agency (PPA) into the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI). This important administrative change has unified Saudi Arabia's social protection umbrella, but it may raise some questions for current retirees and participants.

In this article, we'll explain in detail what happened to the organization, and how you can now access all of your retirement services with ease through GOSI's unified platform. We'll cover everything from how to log in with National Access, submit a retirement application, inquire about your entitlements, to understanding the pension systems after the merger. Our goal is to clear up any confusion and provide you with all the information you need to ensure your pension rights and follow your transactions with confidence.

What is the fate of the pension organization? Full answer about its merger

The straightforward and obvious answer is: The Public Pension Agency no longer exists as an independent entity. Based on a Cabinet decision issued in June 2021, PERS was fully integrated into the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI). This does not mean that the rights of retirees or participants have been lost or canceled; on the contrary, all the Corporation's assets, liabilities, and funds (civilian and military) have been transferred to GOSI.

This means that the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) has become the sole official body responsible for managing all retirement and social protection systems in the Kingdom, whether for employees in the private sector (subject to the insurance system), government employees (subject to the civil pension system) and military personnel (subject to the military pension system). This step was taken to unify efforts, increase performance efficiency, and provide services in a more integrated and effective manner under one digital umbrella, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of digital transformation and development of the government sector.

Why was the pension institution merged into GOSI? Goals and standardization of services

The decision to merge the Retirement Institution into the Social Insurance (GOSI) was not an arbitrary move, but rather part of a comprehensive national strategy aimed at strengthening the social protection sector in the Kingdom. The main objective of this merger is to unify the umbrella of insurance protection for all citizens working in the public and private sectors, in addition to the military.

The main goals of this integration include the following:

• Optimize performance: By unifying administrative, financial and investment processes under one administration, reducing operational costs and increasing the efficiency of pension fund management.
• Optimize the customer experience: Saving Unified Digital Platform (GOSI) Serving all subscribers and retirees, instead of having multiple portals, making it easier for beneficiaries to access services and finalize their procedures.
• Promote financial sustainability: Centralized and robust investment management of pension funds, enhancing their ability to meet their future obligations to retirees.
• Facilitate the exchange of benefits: Facilitating the process of joining services (benefit exchange) for employees who move between the public and private sectors, as all their records are now managed by a single entity.

Your pension (civilian or military) is now... Who is responsible for it?

If you are a former participant in the civil or military retirement system, we assure you that all your pension rights and transactions are in the custody of the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI). GOSI is fully responsible for managing your retirement file, calculating your entitlements, and disbursing your monthly pension.

Whether you are an active duty government employee, military, or already retired, GOSI is your single point of reference. This means that any action you need, such as:

• Query service durations.
• Apply for retirement upon reaching the statutory age.
• Inquire about your pension.
• Update bank details (IBAN).
• All these services and more are now done exclusively through GOSI's official channels, whether through its online portal, its smartphone application "My Insurance", or by visiting one of its branches across the Kingdom.

Retirement Foundation e-services: Your guide to accessing them via GOSI

With the completion of the merger, the portal of the former Public Pension Agency (PPA) has been discontinued. All services, information and data have been transferred to the General Organization for Social Insurance's (GOSI) advanced digital platform. This means that as a subscriber or retiree (civilian or military), you will need to use the GOSI portal or the "My Insurance" application to access all your services.

This may seem like a big change at first, but the new system is designed to be more intuitive and secure, especially with its link to the national digital identity services. In the following sections, we will explain in detail how you can access the GOSI system and utilize the services previously provided by the Pension Agency.

Simplified explanation: The role of Absher and National Access in retirement services via GOSI

One of the most notable changes you'll notice when trying to access GOSI services is the requirement to log in via Nafath, which is closely linked to your Absher account. This may cause some confusion at first, so let us explain:

• "Absher: This is the Ministry of Interior's portal, and your account (username and password) is your primary digital identity documented by the government.
• "National Unified Access (Nafath): Nafath is a service that acts as a "master portal" for all digital government services in the Kingdom. Instead of creating a new account for each ministry or authority, you can use your Absher account to log in to any other government service (such as GOSI) via the Nafath portal. When you choose to log in to GOSI, you will be redirected to the Nafath page, where you will enter your Absher username and password. This procedure ensures the highest levels of security and verifies your identity before allowing you to access your sensitive retirement information.

Detailed steps to log in to the retirement services (My Insurance)

Access to your GOSI retirement account is now standardized and secure across national access. You do not need to create a new GOSI account if you are already registered in Absher. Follow these simple steps to access your file:

1. Visit the official website of the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI).
2. Click on the "Login" icon (usually at the top of the page).
3. Select "Individual Login" and then select Login via "National Unified Access (Nafath)".
4. You will be directed to the National Access page. Enter Absher username and password.
5. You will receive a verification code (temporary password) on your mobile number registered in Absher.
6. Enter the verification code in the customized field.
7. Once verified, you will be automatically directed to your dashboard ("My Insurance" account) within the GOSI portal. Through this dashboard, you will find all your retirement information that has been transferred from the pension organization, including length of service, salary data, and services available to you.

How to submit a "Retirement Application" electronically via GOSI (for civilians and military personnel)

One of the most important services that have been transferred is the "Retirement Request" service. This service is now fully available electronically via GOSI for all participants, whether they are subject to the civil or military retirement system, as they approach retirement age.

This proactive service allows you to submit your application several months prior to your departure date, ensuring a smooth transition from employee to retiree and ensuring that your pension is paid on time without any delays.

Application steps (in general):

1. Log in to your GOSI account (as described in the previous steps).
2. From the Dashboard, find the "Benefits" or "Annuities" section.
3. Choose a service "Request for Disbursement of Retirement Benefits" or "requesting a pension".
4. The system will display your registered data. You will need to fill in some required data such as your expected retirement date (date of leaving work).
5. You may be asked to attach some documents (such as a release from your employer, or IBAN bank account details if you are not registered).
6. You can then follow the status of your application directly through the portal, and you will be notified of any updates via SMS.

How to inquire about pension and contribution periods at GOSI

One of the main concerns of subscribers is knowing their calculated length of service and the size of their expected pension. After the merger, GOSI provides this information in full transparency to all participants (civilian and military) through its digital portal.

Once you log in to your My Insurance account via GOSI, you will find a comprehensive summary of your insurance status in your dashboard. You can do the following:

• Query subscription durations: You will find a section that shows you all your registered lengths of service, whether they are in the public sector (registered with the Pension Agency) or in the private sector (originally registered with GOSI). The system displays the lengths in exact months and years.
• Inquire about your pension: GOSI provides "Estimated Retirement Calculator". Based on your length of service and your average salary, you can receive an estimated amount of your pension when you reach the statutory age.
• Query dues: If you're already retired, you can view details of your monthly pension, disbursement date, and any other entitlements.

Pensioner's heirs (beneficiaries): How do you follow up on your transactions after the merger?

The transfer of services was not limited to subscribers and retirees, but also included the beneficiaries of the deceased retiree's heirs. GOSI recognizes the importance of continuity of benefits for this group, so all beneficiary data and procedures have been transferred to its system.

If you are a beneficiary (such as a widow, child, or parent) and were previously receiving your share of a pension from the Pension Foundation, GOSI is now responsible for disbursing these benefits.

Services available to beneficiaries through the GOSI portal include:

• Inquire about the details of the pension allocated to the beneficiaries.
• Update personal or banking information.
• Submitting requests to add new beneficiaries (e.g. a new baby for a deceased retiree) or modify existing beneficiaries' data (e.g. proof of continuing education for children).
• Report any changes in marital status (e.g. widow marriage) that may affect pension entitlement. Beneficiaries can also log in to GOSI using National Access to manage their shares and track their transactions privately and securely.

Retirement systems after the merger: What changed in your system (civilian and military)?

A fundamental question many are asking: Did the merger of the Pension Foundation into GOSI change the laws or regulations themselves?

The answer is that the merger was primarily an administrative and operational merger. In other words, the organization that "manages" the system has changed, but the basic rules and regulations that govern your pension rights (such as the vesting conditions and calculation method) remain the same, until an official legislative amendment is issued.

If you are a government employee, the "Civil Retirement System" still determines your rights. If you are military, the "Military Retirement System" applies to you. GOSI is now the entity that applies and enforces these regulations on behalf of the government. This administrative consolidation is intended to increase efficiency, not to change the vested rights of participants.

Highlights of the current civilian retirement system (for government employees)

As mentioned, the "Civilian Retirement System" is still applicable to all government (civilian) employees who were formerly overseen by the Pension Corporation. GOSI is only the implementing agency now.

The main features of this system (which may be subject to future amendments by royal decrees or cabinet decisions) include:

• Regular retirement age: is 60 Hijri years (unless another law stipulates a different age for some categories).
• Pension accrual: An employee is entitled to a pension upon termination of service for any reason whatsoever if his/her period of service reaches 25 years or upon reaching the age of sixty, provided that the period of service is not less than one year.
• Early retirement: An employee may request early retirement if his/her length of service reaches 20 years Full, subject to the approval of the entity that has the right to appoint him.
• Pension calculation method: (Pension due = Last Base Salary x Length of Service in months/480). This means that each year of service is equivalent to 2.5% of the last base salary. All these situations (reaching age, early retirement, disability, death) are now managed through GOSI.

Everything you need to know about the post-merger military retirement system

The same applies to military personnel. The "Military Retirement System" with all its details and special conditions is still in effect, and is now administered by the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI). This system takes into account the special nature of military service.

One of the main features of this system:

• Pension accrual: A soldier is entitled to a pension if his active military service reaches 18 years oldor if his active service (military and civilian) reaches 20 years (provided that the military service is not less than 8 years).
• Early retirement (resignation): Military personnel may request retirement if their service reaches 15 years old (of which 8 years of military service) and subject to the approval of the competent minister.
• How to calculate the pension: (Pension due = last basic salary x length of service in months/420). This means that each year of service is roughly equivalent to 2.86% of the last basic salary, which is higher than the civilian system's recognition of military service.
• Special cases: The system deals with cases of retirement due to disability (partial or total) during military operations or due to service, as well as cases of death, in a way that guarantees the rights of the soldier or his heirs.

The insurance system (private sector) and its relationship with other retirement systems

Prior to the merger, the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) was exclusively responsible for implementing the Social Insurance Law, which mainly covers private sector workers (Saudi and non-Saudi in some branches), as well as some categories of public sector workers who are not subject to the civil pension system.

This system differs in some details from pension systems, for example:

• Subscriptions: The subscriber (employee) pays 9% from his/her basic salary and housing allowance, and the employer pays 9% (plus 2% for the occupational hazards branch).
• Retirement age: 60 years of age in Gregorian (not Hijri), with a minimum contribution period of 120 months.
• Early retirement: Possible for a participant who has not reached the age of 60 and has a contribution period of at least 300 months (25 years). After the merger, GOSI became the umbrella that manages all three systems (civil, military, and insurance), greatly facilitating the "exchange of benefits" between them.

[Comparative table: Key differences between the Civil Retirement System and the Social Insurance System]

For a clearer understanding, here is a table that simplifies the main differences between the two platforms that GOSI now runs (note: the military system has its own specifics):

Benefit Exchange System: How to standardize your service between the public and private sector?

The "Benefit Exchange System" is one of the most important systems that serve employees who move between the government sector (subject to the retirement system) and the private sector (subject to the insurance system) during their careers. This system aims to preserve the rights of the participant and ensure that his service period is not lost during the transition.

The idea is simple: Instead of liquidating your benefits when you leave one job and move on to another, you can request a "consolidation of services".

• How does it work? For example, if you move from a government job (5 years of service) to the private sector, you can request that your government service (5 years) be added to your social insurance record (GOSI).
• After merging: This process has become Easier and more efficientbecause GOSI is now the organization that manages both systems. There is no longer a need for lengthy correspondence between two different organizations (formerly the Pension Agency and GOSI).
• How do you ask for annexation? The request for consolidation of services can be submitted electronically via your GOSI account. The system will verify and process your durations recorded in both systems to consolidate them into your final retirement record when you are eligible for pension.

[Checklist: Are you ready to apply for retirement?]

Preparing for retirement is a journey that begins well before your last day of work. To ensure a smooth experience with no surprises, we've prepared a simple checklist to help you review your readiness:

6 months before retirement:

• Log in to GOSI: Have you successfully accessed your My Insurance account via national access? (This is your first and most important step).
• Review service durations: Are all your lengths of service (civilian, military, or private) correctly and accurately recorded in the system?
• Verification of personal data: Is your name, ID number, and date of birth correct and in accordance with official documents?
• Use a retirement calculator: Have you used GOSI's estimated calculator to figure out your expected pension amount?
• Determine the date of retirement: Have you set an exact date for your last day of work in coordination with your employer?

One month before retirement:

• Bank account verification (IBAN): Is your bank account (IBAN) registered and correct in the GOSI system? (This is the account to which your pension will be transferred).
• Processing documents: Have you prepared the documents that may be requested (explained in the next paragraph)?
• Submit the online application: Have you logged into GOSI and submitted the "Request for Disbursement of Retirement Benefits" electronically? (You can submit it 3 months before your retirement date).

After the last working day:

• Obtaining a disclaimer: Have you received a final "release" from your employer? (GOSI may require it as final proof of termination).
• Follow up on the status of the order: Do you follow the status of your application through the GOSI portal to make sure it is approved?

Documents required to apply for retirement: Prepare them in advance

Thanks to digitization and linking government entities, the process of applying for retirement through GOSI requires minimal paper documents. Often, all your data is verified electronically.

However, it's always good to be prepared. The most important data and documents you should have ready are:

1. National ID number: Your ID must be valid.
2. Bank account number (IBAN): Make sure you have a valid and active IBAN number in your name. You will be asked to enter it into the system if it has not been registered before.
3. Termination statement: After your last day of work, your employer will issue a decision to terminate your employment. You may be asked to upload a copy of this decision or "release" through the portal as proof of your actual date of termination.
4. Contact information: Make sure your mobile number and national address are properly registered in Absher and GOSI, as you will receive all notifications and correspondence on them. In special cases (such as disability retirement), additional documents such as certified medical reports may be required.

Pension eligibility requirements (age and length of service)

Your pension entitlement varies depending on which system you are under (civilian, military, or insurance). It's important to know your conditions. Here is a summary of the most important eligibility conditions:

First: Civil Retirement System (government employees):

• Regular retirement (reaching age): Reach Age 60with a minimum of One year (12 months).
• Disability retirement: If your incapacity to work is proven (by a medical report), you are entitled to a pension regardless of your length of service.
• Retirement due to death: Beneficiaries are entitled to a pension regardless of the deceased's length of service.
• Retirement at the request of the employee:
  • Duration of service 25 years Full (entitled to a pension without an age requirement).
  • Duration of service 20 years Full (subject to your employer's approval).

II: Social insurance system (private sector):

• Regular retirement (reaching age): Reach Age 60with a minimum subscription period of 120 months (10 years).
• Early retirement: Reaching the age of 55 years, with a minimum contribution period of 300 months (25 years).

Very important: These terms are a general summary. The most accurate and certain reference is your personal account in GOSIThe system displays your eligibility for retirement based on your registered data, date of birth, and actual length of service.

Frequently asked questions: Everything on your mind about the retirement institution merger

We realize you have many questions about this important change. We have collected the most common questions asked by retirees and subscribers after the merger of the Pension Foundation into GOSI, and provide you with clear and straightforward answers.

Does the merger affect the way my pension is calculated?

The answer is: No, the merger will not affect the way your pension is calculated.

This change is an administrative and organizational change, not a change in the laws and regulations governing your rights. If you are subject to the Civil Retirement System, your pension will be calculated based on the formula (base salary x length of service in months/480). If you are subject to the military system, it will be calculated based on the formula (base salary x length of service in months/420).

GOSI is committed to applying these regulations as they stand. Your vested rights and the way your benefits are calculated are fully preserved and have not changed due to the administrative merger.

What is the fate of documents issued by the pension organization?

All official documents issued to you in the past by the Public Pension Agency (e.g. Retiree Card, Salary Recognition Letters, Pension Allocation Decisions, Service Certificates) are considered official, valid and approved documents and are still valid.

You don't need to replace them. The General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) is the legal inheritor of all records and obligations of the Pension Foundation. If you need to issue a new document (such as an updated salary introduction letter), you can now get it easily and instantly through your GOSI account.

How do I find the nearest GOSI branch for retiree services (civilian and military)?

After the merger, all branches and offices of the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) spread across the Kingdom's cities and governorates are responsible for serving all customers, including retirees and participants subject to civil and military retirement systems.

There is no longer a specialization for some branches and not others. You can head to your nearest GOSI branch to get any service you need face-to-face, whether you are from the private or public sector.

For branch locations and opening hours, you can visit the official GOSI website and use the "Branch Finder" service. However, we assure you that most (if not all) services are available online via the portal or app, saving you the hassle of visiting.

A brief history of the pension organization and its role before the merger

To understand the significance of this merger, a quick look at history is in order. The Public Pension Agency (PPA) was not born in an instant, but rather an evolution of the Pension Authority, which was established by royal decree in 1378 AH (1958 AD).

For more than six decades, this prestigious organization has been responsible for managing the retirement affairs of all civilian and military state employees. It has implemented pension regulations, managed its investment funds, and paid pensions to millions of retirees and their families generation after generation.

The Corporation was an independent entity administratively subordinate to the Ministry of Finance (and at another time to the Ministry of Civil Service), specializing exclusively in the public sector. The decision to merge it into GOSI in 2021 was the culmination of this long journey and the start of a new phase, in which all social protection systems (public and private) will be unified under one strong umbrella, the General Organization for Social Insurance, in preparation for future requirements and in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Conclusion: Summary of your guide to dealing with post-merger pension systems

We hope that this comprehensive guide has clarified all aspects related to the integration of Public Pension Agency in General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI). Our goal was to remove any confusion and provide you with a clear roadmap for managing your retirement rights.

Here's a summary of the most important points to remember:

• Full integration: The Public Pension Agency no longer exists as an independent entity and has been fully integrated into the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI).
• Uniform umbrella: GOSI has become the sole official body responsible for administering all pension and social protection systems in the Kingdom, whether for civilians, military or private sector workers.
• Access via GOSI: All e-services previously provided by the Retirement Corporation (e.g. retirement application, benefit inquiries, data updates) are accessed exclusively through the GOSI online platform ("Emnati") and using the National Single Access (Nafath).
• Rights and regulations have not changed: This merger is an administrative and organizational change. The same retirement systems (civilian and military), eligibility requirements, and pension calculation methods did not change As a result of this merger. Your vested rights are fully reserved.

Thank you very much for reading the full article. We hope you now have the confidence and knowledge to easily follow all your retirement procedures through the unified platform.