According to Article 4 of the Decree detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Social Insurance on social pension benefits, the procedures for social pension benefits are implemented according to new regulations, with a dossier processing time of 7 working days.
People can submit applications in many forms
The subject requesting social pension benefits or the subject's guardian must prepare a declaration requesting social pension benefits, social pension benefits according to Form No. 01 of the Appendix issued together with the Decree regulating social assistance policies.
Dossiers can be sent in one of the following forms: online at the National Public Service Portal, through postal services or submitted directly at any One-Stop Shop.
This regulation creates more choices for people, especially the elderly or people with guardians, in carrying out procedures to request policy benefits.
Processing dossiers within 7 working days
Within 7 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier, the Chairman of the Commune-level People's Committee where the subject resides is responsible for organizing the verification of relevant information of the subject.
Verification is carried out with the National Population Database, the National General Database and common specialized databases.
Based on the results of verification and appraisal of dossiers, the Chairman of the commune-level People's Committee decides on the enjoyment of social pension benefits.
Notably, the time to enjoy social pension benefits is calculated from the month the Chairman of the Commune-level People's Committee signs the decision. After the decision is issued, the payment of regimes and policies to the beneficiaries is organized and implemented according to the provisions of law.
In case the subject does not meet the conditions to enjoy regimes and policies, the Chairman of the commune-level People's Committee must respond in writing and clearly state the reason.
Relocation is still eligible to continue enjoying policies
The regulation also clarifies procedures for people who are receiving social pension benefits but change their place of residence and have a request to continue receiving benefits at a new place of residence.
Accordingly, the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee where the old residence is located will decide to terminate the payment of regimes and policies in the area, and at the same time send a document with the subject's dossier to the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee where the new residence is located.
At the new residence, the Chairman of the Commune-level People's Committee shall base on the subject's dossier to decide on social pension benefits according to the corresponding level applied in the new area.
The allowance level at the new place of residence is applied from the month of termination of payment at the old place of residence, thereby ensuring that the relocation of the area receiving the allowance is carried out continuously, limiting the occurrence of loopholes in the policy benefit process.
For people who are receiving social pension benefits but have passed away or are no longer eligible for social pension according to regulations, the Chairman of the commune-level People's Committee will decide to terminate the enjoyment of social pension benefits.
The time of retirement is determined from the month immediately after the subject dies or is no longer eligible for social pension benefits.
The new regulations relatively clearly define the responsibilities of commune-level authorities throughout the process from receiving, verifying, appraising, deciding to organizing payment and terminating benefits.
The regulation takes effect from October 5, 2026.
