The Ministry of Health received a petition from voters in Thanh Hoa province on increasing the level of allowances for social protection beneficiaries to better ensure the living needs of vulnerable people.
According to the proposal, the current allowance level for severely disabled people is 1.3 million VND/month for children and people over 60 years old; 1 million VND/month for people from 16 to 60 years old. Proposal to increase the allowance level for severely disabled people to 1.5 million VND/month for children and people over 60 years old, and 1.3 million VND/month for people from 16 to 60 years old.
From 2007 to now, the Government has adjusted the social assistance standard level 5 times. The standard level has been increased from 120,000 VND/month according to Decree 67/2007/ND-CP to 180,000 VND in 2010, 270,000 VND in 2013, 360,000 VND in 2021 and currently 500,000 VND/month according to Decree 76/2024/ND-CP.
Depending on each group of subjects, the monthly social allowance level is calculated by multiplying the standard social assistance level by the corresponding coefficient.
The Ministry of Health has submitted to the Government a draft Decree replacing Decree 20/2021/ND-CP and amending and supplementing Decree 176/2025/ND-CP. In the draft, the Ministry proposes to consider adjusting the social assistance standard and social pension allowance from 500,000 VND to 540,000 VND/month, equivalent to an increase of 8%.
According to the Ministry of Health, the adjustment of social assistance standards needs to be considered in accordance with the ability to balance the state budget, economic growth rate, consumer price index and social security requirements in each period.
Proposal to support people directly caring for vulnerable people
In addition to increasing the allowance level, the proposal also proposes policies to support care costs or allowances for people directly raising vulnerable people in particularly difficult circumstances at home.
Regarding this issue, the Ministry of Health said that according to Decree 20/2021/ND-CP, amended and supplemented in Decree 76/2024/ND-CP, households and individuals directly caring for and nurturing people with particularly severe disabilities; people with severe disabilities who are pregnant or raising children under 36 months old; and some vulnerable groups in particularly difficult circumstances are entitled to monthly care and nurturing expenses.
The level of support is calculated according to the standard level of social assistance and the corresponding coefficient, from 1.0 to 2.5 depending on each group of subjects and specific conditions.
The Ministry of Health said that these policies aim to contribute to supporting vulnerable people and families in caring for and nurturing them in the community, while ensuring social security for groups in difficult circumstances.
