Change last-minute decision to keep pension

From immediate money to choices for the future

In the context of the 2024 Social Insurance Law reducing the condition for enjoying pensions to 15 years of social insurance contribution, many workers have chosen to preserve their participation time instead of withdrawing social insurance once to keep the "social security ticket" for old age.

After many months of unemployment due to lack of work at the construction site, Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh (Hanoi) once considered receiving one-time social insurance to cover his life. More than 12 years of social insurance participation at that time was considered a "rescue" in difficult times.

I simply thought of taking out money to worry about it first. But after being consulted, I realized that if I withdraw social insurance once, I would lose the opportunity to receive pensions and health insurance when I am old and weak," Mr. Chinh shared.

After many considerations, at the last minute, Mr. Chinh decided to reserve all the time he had participated in social insurance, waiting for a suitable job to continue contributing.

I am old now, if I no longer have the ability to work and do not have a pension, it will be very difficult. Keeping the time I have contributed is still more reassuring," he said.

Also choosing to continue to stick with the social insurance system, Ms. Ha Thi Tham - a garment worker in Bac Ninh - said that after the business cut labor, she switched to small sales to have income.

Although the economy is no longer as stable as before, she still maintains voluntary social insurance contributions to continue the time she has participated in compulsory social insurance.

Before, I didn't think much about old age. But the older I get, the more I see that having a pension and health insurance card is very important. Later, if I get sick without insurance, the burden will be very heavy," Ms. Tham said.

Not only Mr. Chinh or Ms. Tham, recently, many workers after quitting their jobs have considered more carefully between receiving one-time social insurance and preserving their social insurance participation time.

According to records, instead of leaving the social insurance system to receive an immediate amount of money, many workers choose to continue to keep the time they have contributed to maintain the opportunity to receive pensions and ensure long-term social security.

According to Decree 162/2026/ND-CP, from July 1, 2026, the pension level, social insurance allowance and monthly allowance will be adjusted to increase by an additional 8% on the benefit level of June 2026 for groups subject to application. Information about pension increases makes many people even more determined to preserve social insurance so that in the future they can enjoy a high pension when they are old.

Keeping the opportunity to enjoy pensions and long-term social security

According to the 2024 Law on Social Insurance, employees who quit their jobs but do not meet the conditions to receive a pension, have not received one-time social insurance benefits or have not received monthly allowances are entitled to preserve the social insurance contribution period.

The entire time spent previously will continue to be recorded to add up when employees return to participate in compulsory social insurance or voluntary social insurance.

A noteworthy point is that from July 1, 2025, the 2024 Social Insurance Law officially takes effect with many new regulations in the direction of increasing benefits for participants. In which, the minimum condition on social insurance contribution time to receive pensions is reduced from 20 years to 15 years.

This regulation is assessed to create more opportunities for many workers, especially middle-aged workers, freelancers or people with non-continuous social insurance participation, to be eligible for pension when reaching retirement age.

According to social security experts, preserving social insurance participation time not only helps employees maintain the opportunity to receive pensions but also ensures many other long-term benefits such as being issued health insurance cards during the pension period, reducing the pressure of medical examination and treatment costs when old and health declines.

In addition, relatives of social insurance participants or people receiving pensions are also entitled to death benefits according to regulations if unfortunately risks occur.

Notably, the social insurance preservation period is not limited. After quitting, employees can return to social insurance at any time without losing the previously accumulated process.

According to a report by Vietnam Social Security, it is estimated that by the end of April 2026, the number of people receiving one-time social insurance benefits is 222,201 people, down 24.89% compared to the same period in 2025. This figure shows that more and more workers are interested in the long-term social security value of social insurance policies.

In the context of rapid population aging and increasing social security requirements, the choice of workers to preserve their social insurance participation time is considered a solution to help them actively accumulate for the future, instead of just solving immediate difficulties.

Continuing to stay with the social insurance system not only helps workers retain the opportunity to receive pensions and stabilize their lives in their old age, but also contributes to the goal of universal social insurance and building a sustainable social security system in the new period.