Not every worker participating in social insurance (SI) has enough years of contribution to receive a pension. However, in cases where they do not meet the conditions to receive a pension, SI participants are still guaranteed an important benefit, which is a monthly SI allowance, contributing to stabilizing life when they are no longer able to work.
According to Vietnam Social Security, it is estimated that in 2025, the entire system has reached 186,119 people receiving pensions and monthly social insurance allowances; 1,044,016 people receiving one-time social insurance benefits (of which the number of one-time social insurance beneficiaries decreased by 26.15% compared to the previous year); 9,098,537 turns of people receiving sickness, maternity, health recovery regimes.
In addition, the social insurance agency has received and paid 759,198 decisions to enjoy unemployment benefits, 14,184 decisions to support vocational training. The number of health insurance medical examination and treatment visits in the year reached about 195.5 million visits, an increase of more than 6.5% compared to 2024, with proposed payment costs of about 161,628 billion VND, an increase of 14.3% compared to the same period last year.
Monthly allowance – a support for people who do not qualify for pensions
Among millions of people currently receiving pensions and monthly social allowances, there are many cases eligible for monthly social insurance allowances. This is a policy for employees who have participated in social insurance but have not paid enough years as prescribed to receive pensions when reaching retirement age.
Monthly social insurance allowances are aimed at supporting workers with stable income at a minimum level, helping to ensure basic life when they are old, weak, no longer able to work or have difficulty continuing to participate in the labor market.
Functional agencies recommend that employees carefully understand the benefits of social insurance, consider before choosing to enjoy one-time social insurance benefits, and actively participate and preserve the contribution period to have the opportunity to receive pensions or monthly allowances according to regulations.
According to Article 23 of the Social Insurance Law of 2024, people receiving monthly allowances who are Vietnamese citizens meet the following conditions:
First, they have reached retirement age from July 1, 2025, specifically: male workers are 61 years and 3 months old, female workers are 56 years and 8 months old.
Second, having paid social insurance for a period but not meeting the conditions for enjoying a pension according to regulations.
Third, not yet old enough to receive social pension benefits as prescribed.
Fourth, employees who do not choose to enjoy one-time social insurance and do not preserve the paid time and have requests are entitled to monthly allowances from the social insurance contributions that the employee has participated in.
