Rabat – Morocco has introduced a new exceptional benefit for households that lose their Direct Social Assistance (DSA) eligibility after entering formal employment, with the measure providing financial support for up to 12 months.
The mechanism is in line with the ongoing implementation of King Mohammed VI’s instructions aimed at strengthening social protection mechanisms for citizens.
It fully entered into force following the publication of Decree No. 2.26.434 in the Official Gazette in July, amending the implementing decree of Law No. 58.23 on the Direct Social Assistance program.
DSA is a program that has been operational since 2023 to support vulnerable households in Morocco.
Now, this mechanism seeks to help beneficiaries move into formal jobs without losing their social support immediately.
Previously, some families, according to a press release, felt hesitant to take formal jobs as they feared losing their DSA benefits as soon as they were registered with the National Social Security Fund, also known as CNSS.
Under the new system, a household that loses its DSA benefits after the head of the household or one of the spouses gets a formal job can receive a temporary benefit, with the payment equal to the amount of DSA the household was previously receiving.
The household can apply for the new measure through the DSA official platform, with the new system also providing a safety net for workers who lose their jobs involuntarily.
If a beneficiary loses their formal job, the household can be directly returned to the DSA program, which is managed by the National Agency for Social Support (ANSS).
Direct Social Assistance program in numbers
In July, Morocco’s government approved new changes to the country’s direct social support program, including setting a maximum duration for the exceptional allowance and removing the 12-month waiting period previously required for some beneficiaries to regain financial assistance after losing their jobs.
Under the new changes, the allowance will be available for a maximum of 12 months, and beneficiaries will be able to receive the allowance over 12 consecutive or non-consecutive months, depending on their situation.
The program launched in December 2023 provides monthly cash transfers to low-income households and eligible families based on their social and economic situations.
Payments range from MAD 500 to MAD 1,425 depending on each family’s circumstances.
The program reached more than 3.9 million families by April, representing around 43% of Moroccan households.
Total monthly payments exceeded MAD 2.17 billion in April, according to data from Delegate Budget Minister Fouzi Lekjaa.
Cumulative disbursements since the program’s launch surpassed MAD 59 billion, with the government emphasizing that the initiative targets roughly 60% of the population not already covered by traditional family allowance schemes.
