According to the provisions of the current Law on Social Insurance, the regimes, orders, and procedures for implementing social pension benefits are specified in Article 22 as follows:
The monthly social pension allowance level is regulated by the Government, in accordance with socio-economic development conditions and the capacity of the state budget in each period. Periodically every 3 years, the Government shall review and consider adjusting the social pension allowance level.
Depending on socio-economic conditions, budget balancing capacity and mobilization of social resources, the Provincial People's Committee submits to the People's Council of the same level to decide on additional support for social pension beneficiaries.
In case the subjects specified in Article 21 of this Law are also subject to monthly social allowances, they are entitled to a higher allowance regime.
People who are receiving monthly social pension benefits are paid health insurance by the state budget according to the provisions of the law on health insurance; when they die, organizations and individuals taking care of funeral expenses are entitled to funeral expense support according to the provisions of the law on the elderly.
The Government stipulates the order and procedures for implementing social pension benefits.
Contributing opinions to Article 22 of the Law on Social Insurance, the Department of Home Affairs of Ha Tinh province proposed to study adjusting and raising the standard social pension allowance level.
Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs of Hung Yen province proposed to review and amend regulations related to social pension benefits and monthly survivor's allowances to ensure synchronization (in the proposal section on contribution levels and benefits).
After receiving comments from the two departments, the Ministry of Home Affairs said it did not accept these proposals. The Ministry of Home Affairs proposed to maintain the regulations on the level of social pension benefits as in the Law on Social Insurance No. 41/2024/QH15.
Accordingly, the monthly social pension benefit level is regulated by the Government, in accordance with socio-economic development conditions and the capacity of the state budget in each period; and at the same time allows localities, depending on socio-economic conditions, budget balancing capacity and mobilization of social resources, to provide additional support for social pension beneficiaries.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also said that in the multi-layered social insurance system, the level of social pension benefits may affect the need to participate in voluntary social insurance. Therefore, this benefit level needs to be carefully calculated and considered.
According to data from Vietnam Social Security, currently the whole country is implementing social pension benefits for 2.5 million people, with a total budget from the state budget of nearly 7,000 billion VND.
There are 5 provinces and cities applying higher allowances than the levels specified in Decree No. 176/2025/ND-CP, including: Hanoi city and Ho Chi Minh City (650,000 VND/month); Hai Phong city and Quang Ninh province (700,000 VND/month); Tuyen Quang province (530,000 VND/month).
The increase in social pension benefits has gradually met the social assistance needs of a part of people in difficult circumstances. Currently, 100% of social pension beneficiaries are issued health insurance cards and are entitled to 100% payment of medical examination and treatment costs within the scope of benefits of health insurance participants.
