Mandatory for Social Security to Count Military Study Period as Part of "Service"

The Civil Department of the Court of Appeal in Kuwait has ordered the Public Authority for Social Security to count the period of study of a citizen at the Police College as part of his actual service period with the Ministry of the Interior, and to issue him a certificate confirming his actual length of service.

The plaintiff had previously submitted a request to the Public Authority for Social Security to count his period of study at the Police College, which exceeded six months, as part of his actual service. He then filed an appeal in accordance with the law but received no response, prompting him to file a lawsuit to claim his right to have that period counted.

The grounds of the judgment stated that the Law on Pensions and Retirement Benefits for Military Personnel stipulates that periods of successful study at military colleges, institutes, and schools of the Army, Police, and National Guard are included in the period of service. It confirmed that the documents established the citizen’s enrollment and successful graduation from the Police College, and therefore his period of study is considered part of his actual service period, which qualifies him for a retirement pension.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Haya Al-Shalhoub, said the judgment affirmed that “the period of study at the Police College is considered part of the plaintiff’s actual service period, which qualifies him for a retirement pension.” She noted that failing to count this period constitutes an error in the application of the law, which the court addressed by ordering the Authority to count the study period and its associated consequences.