Pensions officially increased from July 1st, right when many students entered summer vacation. For many retirees, this additional increase helps them have conditions to take better care of their children and grandchildren, and organize family reunions after many busy months.
Sharing with Lao Dong Newspaper, Ms. Nguyen Thi Sau in Gia Binh commune, Bac Ninh province said that she has been retiring for nearly 10 years. Children are working and getting married in other provinces, so most of the time she lives alone.
“The thing I want most is for the summer vacation, for the children and grandchildren to come and visit grandma. The house is more crowded and happy, and the elderly also feel better,” Mrs. Sau said.
According to Ms. Sau, this summer the joy is even more complete as pensions continue to be adjusted to increase.
This summer, my pension after the increase will be 12 million VND/month. With this additional amount, I am more comfortable taking my children out to play, buying gifts, buying clothes for them," Ms. Sau shared.
Not only Ms. Sau, many retirees also see pension increases as a great source of spiritual encouragement in the context of increasing living costs.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Uyen in Dong Ngac ward, Hanoi said that her hometown is Bac Ninh. After retiring, she moved to Hanoi to live with her eldest son, and her daughter got married in her hometown.
I am most looking forward to summer vacation so that the whole family can gather, take the children out to play, and go on short trips. Old people just need family to gather together to be happy," Ms. Uyen said.
According to Ms. Uyen, as soon as there was information about the pension increase, the whole family went for a walk around Hanoi as an opportunity to meet and chat fully.
This summer, the family is happier as pensions continue to increase. This is a very meaningful income for retirees," Ms. Uyen added.
According to Decree No. 162/2026/ND-CP, the Government decided to adjust the pension level, social insurance allowance and monthly allowance from July 1.
According to statistics from Vietnam Social Security, there are currently about 3.5 million people receiving pensions and allowances. With this adjustment, the additional funding compared to 2025 is about 10,773 billion VND.
From July 1, 2026, 9 groups of workers will be adjusted to increase by an additional 8% on the pension level, social insurance allowance and monthly allowance of June 2026.
At the same time, the base salary was also increased to 2,530,000 VND/month.
Notably, in addition to the general increase of 8%, the Government also implemented a second pension increase policy for some low-entitlement groups to improve the lives of retirees.
According to regulations, people who receive a second pension increase must belong to 7 groups of subjects according to regulations, have retired to receive pensions or allowances before January 1, 1995 and after an increase of 8% still have a benefit level below 3.8 million VND/month.
For cases with benefits equal to or lower than 3.5 million VND/month, an additional 300,000 VND/month will be increased. For cases with benefits above 3.5 million VND/month but below 3.8 million VND/month, it will be increased to 3.8 million VND/month.
Decree 162/2026/ND-CP stipulates 9 groups of subjects eligible for pension and allowance increases, including cadres, civil servants, public employees, laborers; soldiers, people's police; commune, ward, town officials; people entitled to unemployment benefits; people entitled to occupational accident and disease benefits, and many other groups of subjects who are receiving pensions and allowances before July 1, 2026.
