Disabled complain of financial hardship

People with disabilities in the Kingdom claim that the financial support they receive from the Ministry of Social Affairs isn’t enough to cover their medical treatment, education and other costs.
In the past, people with disabilities received a yearly lump sum between SR10,000 and SR15,000. Late last year, the Ministry of Social Affairs changed this policy and instead started giving out monthly disability checks ranging between SR800 to SR1,200.
There are no current reliable statistics on disabilities, including numbers, types of disabilities or geographical distribution. However, the Ministry of Social Affairs said it allocates SR2.3 billion a year for disability aid.
Talal Al-Bakri, head of the social affairs committee in the Shoura Council, called for increasing the monthly disability checks, especially for those who suffer from severe or multiple disabilities.
Due to inflation, prices are constantly rising, while the level of financial aid has remained the same for the several years now, said Al-Bakri.
Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem, a Saudi with hand paralysis, said his monthly disability check of SR1,000 was not enough to cover basic costs.
“I need someone during the day to help me do my daily activities. If I hire a nurse, I have to pay about SR2,000 a month. I can’t depend on the housemaid because she is a woman and can’t help me with all of my needs,” he said.
According to Al-Suwailem, many people with disabilities rely on family members but he thinks in most cases this is only a short-term solution.
“My brother used to take care of me by helping me go to the bathroom, take a shower, study and eat. Now he has a job and is unable to help me out like he did in the past.”
Hissa Shtaiwi, the mother of a Saudi girl with a mental disability, said her daughter receives SR1,200 a month. She said that amount doesn't even cover half of her daughter’s medical and educational costs.
“To save money, I help my daughter as much as I can. But between arranging for her medical care, including scheduling visits to the doctor and buying her medication and arranging for a special education needs teacher, our monthly costs are around SR 3,000,” said Shtaiwi, adding that her daughter requires special care under the supervision of a nurse.
“I sometimes make mistakes when administering medication to my daughter. A nurse could help avoid that, but we can’t afford one,” she added.
Reem Jumaa, whose sister recently became handicapped after a car accident, said not only is the SR800 they receive from the Ministry of Social Affairs not enough but registering her sister’s name with the ministry was incredibly cumbersome and time consuming.
“My sister was a teacher at a government school in Bisha. After she became handicapped she lost her job. And after several long months of being placed on a waiting list, the ministry decided to only give her SR800, even though the cost of her treatment is much higher,” she said.