From October 5, 2026, subjects specified in Article 2 of Decree No. 176/2025/ND-CP are entitled to a monthly social pension allowance of 540,000 VND/month according to Decree No. 335/2026/ND-CP.
This benefit level is higher than the monthly social pension allowance level according to old regulations (500,000 VND/month).
Subjects and conditions for enjoying social pension benefits
In Article 2 of Decree No. 176/2025/ND-CP, the subjects and conditions for enjoying social pension benefits are specified as follows:
Subjects and conditions for enjoying social pension benefits as prescribed in Article 21 of the Law on Social Insurance:
1. Vietnamese citizens are entitled to social pension benefits when they meet the following conditions:
a) From 75 years of age or older;
b) Not receiving pension or monthly social insurance allowance; or currently receiving pension or monthly social insurance allowance lower than the pension level specified in this Decree;
c) Having a written request for social pension benefits.
2. Vietnamese citizens from 70 years old to under 75 years old belonging to poor households, near-poor households according to the Government's regulations and meeting the conditions specified in points b and c, clause 1 of this Article.
Order and procedures for implementing social pension benefits
Decree No. 335/2026/ND-CP also amends and supplements Article 4 of Decree No. 176/2025/ND-CP on the order and procedures for implementing social pension benefits as follows:
- Subjects and guardians of subjects who have Declarations requesting social assistance and social pension benefits according to Form No. 01 Appendix issued together with the Decree stipulating social assistance policies sent online at the National Public Service Portal or through postal services or directly at any One-Stop Shop.
- Within 07 working days from the date of receiving the subject's dossier, the Chairman of the Commune-level People's Committee where he resides shall organize the verification of relevant information of the subject with the National Population Database, National General Database, Common Specialized Database; appraise and decide on social pension benefits. The time to receive social pension benefits is from the month the Chairman of the Commune-level People's Committee signs the decision. Organize the payment of regimes and policies to the subject 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 shall respond in writing and clearly state the reason.
- In case the subject currently receiving social pension benefits changes his place of residence and requests to receive regimes and policies in a new place of residence, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune where he used to reside decides to terminate the payment of regimes and policies in the area and has a document attached to the subject's dossier to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune where the subject's new place of residence is located.
The Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune where the new residence is located shall, based on the dossier of the subject, decide on social pension benefits at the corresponding level applied in the area from the month of termination of payment at the old residence.
- In case the subject currently enjoying social pension benefits dies and no longer qualifies for social pension benefits as prescribed in Article 2 of this Decree, the Chairman of the Commune-level People's Committee decides to terminate the enjoyment of social pension benefits. The period of termination of social pension benefits is from the month immediately after the subject dies or does not qualify for social pension benefits".
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi An - former National Assembly Deputy, Director of the Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Community Development - said that raising the social assistance standard to 540,000 VND/month helps disadvantaged groups have more support and be more assured in daily life.
The social pension allowance policy clearly shows the spirit of not leaving the elderly without pensions and social insurance allowances behind.
Expanding support to people from 70 to under 75 years old from poor and near-poor households shows that policies are not only based on age but also on circumstances and vulnerability.
In particular, the regulation reserving benefits for both people with pensions or social insurance allowances lower than social pension allowances contributes to forming a social security floor, helping the elderly have more stable income to cover essential needs and reduce dependence on the family.
