Subsidies increase but are still a difficult problem
The Ministry of Health received a petition from voters in Phu Tho province regarding the monthly social allowance level for social protection beneficiaries, which is still quite low compared to the average living standard.
For lonely elderly people or people with severe disabilities, this allowance is not only used for daily living but also to cover many specific needs such as medicine, medical examination and treatment, nutrition and care.
Voters therefore proposed to amend policies in the direction of raising the standard social allowance level commensurate with the increase in the base salary, and at the same time expanding the group of people who can be admitted to social assistance facilities for care and nurturing.
From 120,000 VND to 500,000 VND after nearly 20 years
According to the Ministry of Health, from 2007 to now, the standard level of social assistance has been adjusted upwards 5 times by the Government.
Specifically:
In 2007: the standard level was 120,000 VND/month.
2010: increased to 180,000 VND/month.
2013: increased to 270,000 VND/month.
Year 2021: increased to 360,000 VND/month.
Year 2024: increased to 500,000 VND/month.
The actual allowance level that each subject receives is calculated by multiplying the standard social assistance level by the corresponding coefficient for each group of subjects.
Looking at a journey of nearly 20 years, the standard has increased more than 4 times.
Proposal for new standard: 540,000 VND/month
To respond to voters' recommendations, the Ministry of Health said it has submitted to the Government a draft Decree replacing Decree 20/2021/ND-CP and amending and supplementing Decree 176/2025/ND-CP.
A noteworthy content in the draft is the proposal to raise the social assistance standard and social pension allowance from 500,000 VND to 540,000 VND/month, equivalent to an increase of 8%.
If approved, this will be the next adjustment to the social assistance standard level after the 500,000 VND/month level was applied from 2024.
The Ministry of Health noted that the adjustment cannot only be based on the needs of beneficiaries but must simultaneously calculate many factors, including the ability to balance the budget, economic growth rate, consumer price index and social security requirements in each period.
