They also claim that the slow pace of office procedures has caused delays in receiving assistance from the office, Al-Madinah daily reported.

A senior GOSI official dismissed the complaints as baseless. Fatima Al-Qarni, director of GOSI’s women’s office in Makkah, said the employees were trying their best to extend all possible services to the recipients of the welfare assistance.

However, the women insist that they face innumerable problems. They say that they suffer because of crowding at the congested office that allegedly has inadequate facilities. They also demand an increase in their allowance in the wake of a hike in prices of most consumer goods.

Speaking to the newspaper, Umm Muhammad, a widow who came to renew her GOSI card, said she encountered bad treatment from some women employees at the office.

“They did not lend a helping hand while serving us. We were asked to go out to take photocopies of necessary documents,” she said while noting that it is tiring for old women to go down the staircases and come back.

Umm Muhammad suggested arranging a special area inside the office for taking photocopies.

Umm Khaled, an elderly woman, said she reached the office to inquire about the reason why she had not received financial assistance for the last five months. “Whenever I came to inquire about it, they tell me to come after 10 days. I don’t have the money to pay for taxi to come to the office so many times for nothing.”

Khadeeja, a widow, said that she has to look after five children after the death of their father a year ago. “It was very difficult for me to support the family with the little amount of money received from GOSI. Event that had been stopped seven months ago and I’m deeply in debt now. After visiting the office several times, I managed to get one month’s allowance,” Khadeeja said adding that she has no idea whether she will get the arrears or not.

Umm Ali, a widow, said the allowance she receives from GOSI is quite insufficient to support her six-member family, including five children.

“I get SR2,000 per month. This is not sufficient for paying my rent and meeting the education costs for my children. Therefore, I took on a menial job to support my family,” she said, adding she was told by GOSI officials that her allowance would be stopped if she continues on the job.

Dismissing the women's claims, Al-Qarni said: “On the contrary, GOSI employees are striving hard to extend the best possible services to the beneficiaries. There is also no bureaucratic delay at the office or delayed appointments for clients.”

She said that the office handles more than 400 clients daily, with only 15 employees to help them. They include five administrative staff and 10 researchers.

She emphasized the office is keen to ensure better living conditions for weaker sections of society, including widows, divorcees, orphans, families of prisoners and displaced people who have been referred from the Ministry of Social Affairs. “The problem of inadequate facilities at the office will be resolved soon with the shifting of the office to a new and bigger building and an increase in the number of staff,” she added.