Salary-only rule for housing applications

TDT | Manama

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Five Bahraini lawmakers have submitted an urgent proposal to exclude cost-ofliving allowances from income calculations used to determine eligibility for state housing programmes.

The initiative, led by MP Jalal Kadhem, calls on the government to base housing eligibility assessments on basic salaries only, arguing that allowances intended to offset rising living costs should not be treated as part of applicants’ income. The proposal is backed by MPs Jaleela Alawi, Najib Al Kuwari, Mohammed Al Maarfi and Jameel Mulla Hassan. It seeks amendments to provisions under Ministerial Decision No. 909 of 2015 and its subsequent updates, which regulate access to government housing services.

MP Kadhem said the current system counts cost-of-living allowances as part of monthly income, despite their purpose being to help households cope with higher expenses rather than increase their eligibility threshold.