How to Claim GOSI Death Benefits in Saudi Arabia

What GOSI Pays When a Worker Dies

Saudi Arabia's General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) provides death benefits to the families of registered foreign workers who die from work-related causes. These benefits are significant — and frequently unclaimed, because families do not know they exist or cannot navigate the application process from outside the Kingdom.

Here is what GOSI offers and exactly how to claim it.

Three Types of GOSI Death Benefits

1. Monthly survivor pension

GOSI pays a monthly pension to the deceased worker's eligible dependents. The pension pool is calculated based on the number of survivors: 100% of the pension amount for three or more eligible survivors, 75% for two, and 50% for one. The minimum monthly share for any single family member is SR 345, with a maximum total cap of SR 1,750 per month, or the average wage used for pension calculations.

Eligible dependents include the widow, sons under 21 (extended to 26 if enrolled in higher education), unmarried daughters, and dependent parents or siblings — provided the family can prove the deceased was actively supporting them.

2. One-time death grant

In addition to the monthly pension, GOSI pays an immediate death grant of up to SR 10,000, distributed equally among eligible survivors. This grant is designed to help cover funeral expenses.

3. Repatriation cost coverage

If the death was work-related — including commute accidents — GOSI covers all repatriation costs: embalming, casket, airline cargo, and ground transport to the home country.

Eligibility: The Work-Related Requirement

GOSI's Occupational Hazards branch covers foreign workers in the private sector. The critical requirement is that the death must be work-related: a workplace accident, an occupational disease, or an incident that occurred during the worker's commute to or from work.

Deaths from natural causes (illness, cardiac arrest unrelated to work) are generally not covered under the occupational hazard provisions, though the employer still owes End-of-Service Benefits under separate labor law provisions.

The employer must submit the GOSI claim within three days of the death. If the employer fails to file, the family or their representative can file directly — but this requires navigating the GOSI portal or visiting a branch office.

How to File the Claim

Option 1: GOSI Online Portal (gosi.gov.sa)

GOSI offers an online portal where heirs can submit claims electronically. The process requires:

• Registering as a verified heir on the portal
• Uploading identification documents and relationship proofs (marriage contracts, birth certificates)
• All documents must be translated into Arabic and fully legalized through the consular legalization chain
• SMS verification codes sent to an active mobile number

The portal is functional but presents real barriers for families in Ethiopia or Eritrea: complex Arabic/English interfaces, the mobile verification requirement, and the need for fully legalized documents that may still be working through the consular chain.

Option 2: In-person at a GOSI branch

A designated representative in Saudi Arabia — authorized through a legalized Power of Attorney — can visit the GOSI head office in Riyadh (King Khalid Road) or any regional branch. Bring the original death certificate, the police report, the legalized PoA, and all supporting documents.

Documents Required for the GOSI Claim

• Saudi death certificate (Shahada Al-Wafa), legalized
• Police report (especially for accident or workplace deaths)
• Employer's GOSI registration details
• Legalized Power of Attorney from the next of kin
• Certified marriage contracts or birth certificates proving dependency
• For dependent parents/siblings: proof the deceased was actively providing financial support

Common Obstacles

The employer did not register the worker with GOSI. If the deceased was not registered, GOSI will not process the claim — but the employer becomes personally liable to pay the full death compensation directly to the heirs. This is a strong leverage point in labor court.

Proof of dependency for parents and siblings. GOSI requires official documentation that the deceased was actively supporting dependents beyond the immediate nuclear family. For rural families in Ethiopia or Eritrea, obtaining and legalizing this proof is often the hardest part of the claim.

The 3-day employer filing deadline. If the employer does not file, the family or its representative can file directly through GOSI or escalate through MHRSD.

Do Not Leave This Money Unclaimed

For Ethiopian and Eritrean families, GOSI benefits can represent the most significant financial recovery after a work-related death — potentially monthly pension payments plus the SR 10,000 death grant plus full repatriation coverage. The Ethiopian/Eritrean Dies in Saudi Arabia Family Guide includes a GOSI claim worksheet and step-by-step portal navigation instructions designed for families filing from outside Saudi Arabia.