From July 1, 2025, when the 2024 Law on Social Insurance officially takes effect, social pensions become a new social security regime for elderly people without pensions. Stepping into 2026, many localities have proactively increased the level of support from the budget, helping beneficiaries have more stable income sources.
Social pension allowances are a type of social insurance guaranteed by the state budget, aimed at supporting the elderly who do not receive pensions or monthly social insurance allowances, thereby contributing to reducing difficulties in life.
According to Article 21 of the 2024 Law on Social Insurance, the beneficiaries of social pension benefits are divided into two groups.
The first group is citizens aged 75 and over, who do not receive pensions or monthly social insurance allowances and have a written request to receive social pension allowances.
The second group is citizens from 70 years old to under 75 years old from poor households, near-poor households, who do not receive pensions or monthly social insurance allowances and have a written request to receive social pension allowances.
People receiving social pensions are guaranteed three regimes, including: monthly social pension allowance; funeral expense support; and are issued health insurance cards paid by the state budget. In which, the monthly allowance is the most important financial support source, helping the elderly have a minimum regular income.
In Article 3 of Decree No. 176/2025/ND-CP, the monthly social pension allowance level is uniformly regulated nationwide at 500,000 VND/person/month, completely guaranteed by the state budget.
However, the 2024 Law on Social Insurance also opens up flexible mechanisms. Clause 6, Article 6 of the law encourages localities, based on socio-economic conditions and budget balancing capacity, to proactively provide additional support to increase the level of allowances for social retirees.
Reality in 2026 shows that many provinces and cities have implemented supplementary support policies from the local budget, helping the social pension allowance level to be significantly higher than the general regulations.
The highest level currently recorded is in Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city, with 700,000 VND/person/month, higher than the general level of 200,000 VND.
Specifically, the People's Council of Quang Ninh province approved this support level in Resolution No. 65/2025/NQ-HDND dated July 17, 2025, applicable from July 27, 2025. Meanwhile, the People's Council of Hai Phong city decided on a similar level of allowance in Resolution No. 48/2025/NQ-HDND dated December 10, 2025, effective from January 1, 2026.
Behind are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with a social pension level of 650,000 VND/person/month.
The Hanoi City People's Council approved this support level in Resolution No. 63/2025/NQ-HDND dated November 27, 2025, applied from January 1, 2026. In Ho Chi Minh City, the allowance level of 650,000 VND/month was decided in Resolution No. 36/2025/NQ-HDND dated August 28, 2025 and started to be implemented from September 1, 2025.
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