Mr. Nguyen Van Giang, 65 years old, in Dai Lai commune, Bac Ninh province, said that he used to work and participate in social insurance. But in 1988 he quit his job, received one-time social insurance and returned to his hometown to farm. For nearly 40 years, he has worked freelance in many places, so he has no pension.
According to Mr. Giang, he still has to work in construction to earn a living. However, in recent years, old age and reduced health have made work increasingly difficult, and income is no longer as before.
When I read the information that there is a plan to reduce the age of enjoying social pension benefits to 70 years old, I was very happy. For people without pensions like us, this is really good news. I just hope that by that age I will have an extra amount to cover living expenses, buy medicine or spend on essential daily tasks," Mr. Giang shared.
According to him, the most precious thing about the policy is not the amount of subsidies, but the humanistic meaning.
This is not only material support but also shows the State's concern for those who have reached retirement age but do not have pensions. Old people all want to take care of their own lives somewhat, not completely dependent on their children and grandchildren. Having a monthly allowance will help us feel much more secure," Mr. Giang shared.
Mr. Giang said that in reality, many people over 60 years old are no longer able to do heavy work. If they have to wait until 75 years old to receive allowances, that period is quite long for those who do not have a stable source of income.
Ms. Tran Thi Dung, over 60 years old, from Bac Ninh, who came to take care of her grandchild in Hanoi, shared that she currently does not have a pension, so while taking care of her grandchild, she takes advantage of her free time to sell goods to earn extra income.
I also really hope to have a pension allowance regime soon to be proactive in life and feel secure in my old age," Ms. Dung shared.
Also looking forward to the policy being implemented soon, Ms. Bui Thi Mung, in Nat Son commune, Phu Tho province, said that her whole life has been associated with farming and afforestation.
Due to low income and precarious work, she does not have the conditions to participate in social insurance.
At the age of over 60, Ms. Mung said her health has clearly declined, and she can no longer work as before.
When I was young, I went to the forest and worked in the fields all day and didn't feel tired. Now just working for a while makes my back hurt, legs hurt, many days I have to rest halfway. My income has also decreased a lot, while the cost of medicine is increasing" - she said.
Knowing that the draft is proposing to reduce the age for enjoying social pension benefits to 70 years old, she could not hide her excitement:
I am very happy because if it is approved, many elderly people in rural areas like us will have more support. No one wants to live on subsidies, but when they are old and no longer have the ability to work, that support is very necessary. Having an additional amount each month will help the elderly be more proactive in their daily life, buy medicine when sick and also reduce the need to completely rely on their children and grandchildren.
According to Ms. Mung, in her hometown, there are still many people who have worked in agriculture for a lifetime but do not have pensions. Therefore, if the age for receiving allowances is reduced, it will help many people feel more secure.
According to the draft Law on Social Insurance (amended), the drafting agency is submitting two options on the age for enjoying social pension benefits.
The first option is to maintain the current regulations, people aged 75 and over who do not receive pensions or monthly social insurance allowances will be entitled to social pension benefits if requested.
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 budget balancing capacity.
Currently, many ministries, branches, organizations and localities have expressed their agreement with this plan, while some units proposed to continue to maintain current regulations and study a suitable roadmap.
