Not eligible to get pension and salary together: SPF

MUSCAT, JUNE 23
The old-age pension will only become payable after an insured person’s service has ended, even if they have already reached the statutory retirement age, after the Social Protection Fund (SPF) introduced a key amendment to pension regulations.
The clarification comes amid growing public interest following amendments to Article (61) governing the Elderly Pension, with the Fund emphasising that the entitlement itself remains unchanged.
Malik al Harthy, Director of Benefits at the SPF, said that insured individuals who attain the age of 60 while still employed are not eligible to receive a retirement pension concurrently with their salary.
“The requirement relates solely to the commencement of pension payments and does not affect the individual’s entitlement to the pension itself,” Al Harthy said.
Officials stressed that no changes have been introduced to the eligibility criteria for retirement pensions, nor have there been any amendments to pension calculation methods. Insured individuals will continue to receive the same benefits and rights guaranteed under the existing legal framework.
The SPF also moved to address concerns regarding individuals who had previously received a pension while remaining in employment. It confirmed that all payments made under the former provisions were lawful and valid at the time they were granted.
As a result, beneficiaries will not be required to repay any amounts already received, and no recovery measures will be pursued against them.
“The rights acquired under the previous regulations remain protected,” the SPF said.
With regard to applications that had been submitted but had not yet resulted in pension payments before the amendment entered into force, the SPF stated that such applications have been cancelled and will now be subject to the revised provisions. The measure, it explained, is intended to ensure the uniform application of the new rules across all pending cases.
Al Harthy further highlighted the distinction between retirement pensions and social protection benefits for senior citizens, noting that the two programmes operate under separate frameworks and eligibility requirements.
While retirement pensions are linked to insurance contributions and the termination of employment service, social protection benefits are granted according to their own criteria and remain fully unaffected by the recent amendment.
The Fund also clarified that the amendment does not prevent retirees from returning to the labour market after retirement. Individuals who have completed their service and begun receiving their retirement pension may subsequently take up employment in the private sector while continuing to receive their pension benefits.
Officials noted that this flexibility allows experienced professionals to remain economically active and enables employers to benefit from their expertise, while preserving retirees’ pension entitlements.