Hajj Through Pension Fund Opens for Maldivians Over 65

The Maldivian government has expanded access to Hajj funding through the pension fund, allowing individuals over the age of 65 to use their Retirement Savings Account (RSA) for the pilgrimage. The sixth amendment to the Pension Act now permits elderly citizens, who were previously excluded due to age limits, to apply for Hajj queue entry using funds accumulated during their working lives. According to the Pension Office, eligible members must not have performed the obligatory Hajj before and must have at least 336,000 Rufiyaa in their RSA. Applicants will pay 20 percent of the Hajj journey cost to the Maldives Hajj Corporation and request the Pension Office to settle the remaining balance. So far, 369 individuals have performed Hajj through the pension fund, and over 24,000 people currently meet the conditions to do so. Additionally, for the upcoming 1448 Hajj, priority will be given to individuals over 70 who have been waiting in the queue for three years. The Hajj Corporation noted that inquiries about using pension funds for Hajj are common, and the policy aims to provide a fair system for elderly citizens waiting in line.