Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, lawyer Nguyen Thu Trang, Deputy Director of HEVA Law Company Limited, said that the current regulations on social pension benefits are stipulated in Articles 21 to 24 of the current Law on Social Insurance and Decree No. 176/2025/ND-CP, effective from July 1, 2025.
Accordingly, Vietnamese citizens are entitled to social pension benefits when they meet the following conditions: From 75 years old or older, not receiving pension or monthly social insurance allowance; or receiving pension or monthly social insurance allowance but lower than the social pension allowance level as prescribed; and having a written request for social pension benefits.
In addition, people from 70 years old to under 75 years old from poor or near-poor households as prescribed by the Government are also entitled to allowances if they fully meet the remaining conditions according to the provisions of law.
According to lawyer Nguyen Thu Trang, the regulation on the age for enjoying social pension benefits is also being considered for amendment in the draft Law on Social Insurance (amended).
The drafting agency is submitting two options. The first option maintains the current regulations, meaning that people aged 75 and over who do not receive pensions or monthly social insurance allowances will be entitled to social pension benefits if requested.
Meanwhile, the second option proposes assigning the Government to decide on a roadmap to gradually reduce the age for enjoying allowances to 70 years old, in accordance with socio-economic development conditions and the ability to balance the state budget.
Regarding the benefit level, lawyer Nguyen Thu Trang said that Decree No. 176/2025/ND-CP stipulates that people eligible for social pension benefits are entitled to 500,000 VND/month.
In case social pension beneficiaries are also eligible for monthly social allowances, they will be entitled to a regime with a higher level of allowance.
In addition, depending on socio-economic development conditions, budget balancing capacity and mobilization of social resources, the Provincial People's Committee can submit to the People's Council of the same level to decide on additional support for social pension beneficiaries in the area.
According to the summary report on the implementation of the Law on Social Insurance of the Ministry of Home Affairs - the agency in charge of drafting the draft Law on Social Insurance (amended), the whole country is currently implementing social pension allowances for about 2.5 million people, with a total budget from the state budget of nearly 7,000 billion VND.
Currently, 5 localities are supporting social pension beneficiaries at a higher level than the general regulations. In which, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City support 650,000 VND/month; Hai Phong and Quang Ninh support 700,000 VND/month; Tuyen Quang supports 530,000 VND/month.
