JEDDAH: The Saudi Ministry of Social Affairs announced the launch of new support programs aimed at providing additional financial assistance to beneficiaries of the Kingdom's Social Security program.

These include a cash assistance food program, home furnishing program, school supplies program, in addition to programs that provide assistance in paying electricity bills, purchasing health insurance and to finance production projects and home restoration projects. The programs are separate from regular monthly benefits.

"We have just completed depositing over SR 138.8 million to beneficiaries for this month in association with our Cash Assistance for Food Program," said Mohammed Awad, spokesman for the ministry of Social Affairs.

He added that the Food Program was one of seven programs that were recently implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, which has allocated SR 4.5 billion to activate the programs.

"All programs have been implemented except the health insurance and home restoration projects, which are still under study and need further analysis," Awad said.

He further stated that the ministry recently spent SR 28,143,520 for its Cash Assistance for School Supplies Program for the first semester of the 2012-2013 academic year, to help poor families afford the cost of supplies such as uniforms and bags.

"We are announcing the new support programs in efforts of raising awareness and allow beneficiary families to take advantage of the available assistance," Awad said.

Eligible beneficiaries of the social security program include widows, orphans, deserted family members and people with temporary or permanent debilitating health conditions and disabilities.

Services are available through 97 Social Security offices throughout the Kingdom.