Behind the increased figures are drug costs, living expenses and the initiative of the elderly in life.
Having a pension, more proactive when old
In her 60s, Ms. Tran Thi Hue (born in 1962, Ninh Chu, Khanh Hoa), former official of the Ninh Hai District Labor Federation, has been receiving pensions for nearly 8 years.
When she first retired, her pension was just over 4 million VND/month. Through policy adjustments, the benefit level has gradually improved and is now over 8 million VND/month.
For Ms. Hue, the value of that amount of money is not only in the amount of money received each month, but more importantly, it helps her to be more proactive in life when she has left work.
With a pension, I feel more secure in life. Daily expenses, medicine, and health care can all be taken care of proactively, without having to rely on children and grandchildren," Ms. Hue shared.
Nearly 8 years of receiving a pension has also made her even more deeply understand the value of preparing for social security when she is still of working age.
Her son works as a freelancer, has unstable income and is not subject to compulsory social insurance. After being consulted by social insurance officials, she decided to participate in voluntary social insurance for her son, choosing the income level as a basis for contributing 5 million VND/month.
I myself have benefited from the policy, so I want my children to also be prepared for old age. When they are young and have the ability to work, they should think about the future," Ms. Hue said.
Also in Ninh Hai, Ms. Nguyen Thi Doan (born in 1964), formerly a worker at Ninh Thuan Salt and Trading Joint Stock Company, has spent many years working in difficult conditions.
At the time of retirement, she received more than 2.5 million VND/month. Through adjustments, the current benefit level has increased to more than 4 million VND/month.
The pension is not too large, but regularly every month helps make life less difficult. The important thing is that I can take care of myself, not completely depend on my children," Ms. Doan said.
Her family still has many expenses. Her husband suffers from chronic disease, has no pension; her only son is a freelancer, with unstable income. Therefore, her pension has become an important source of income to maintain family life.
From that reality, Ms. Doan further understood the necessity of participating in social insurance. After being explained by the social insurance agency about the voluntary social insurance policy, she decided to spend a part of her monthly money to participate for her son, with an income base of 5 million VND/month.
If today's pension helps Ms. Hue and Ms. Doan to be more proactive in life, then participating in voluntary social insurance for their children is a way for the two mothers to prepare a social security support for the next generation.
Behind the 8% increase
According to Decree No. 162/2026/ND-CP of the Government, from July 1, 2026, pensions, social insurance allowances and monthly allowances of subjects subject to adjustment will be increased by an additional 8% on the June 2026 benefit level.
The policy also provides additional adjustments for some people who retired to receive pensions and allowances before January 1, 1995 with low benefits.
After an increase of 8%, people in this category with a benefit level equal to or lower than 3.5 million VND/month will receive an additional increase of 300,000 VND/person/month; people with a benefit level above 3.5 million VND but below 3.8 million VND/month will be increased to 3.8 million VND/month.
According to Vietnam Social Security, more than 3.5 million people nationwide are subject to adjustments in this phase.
For each person, the increase has a different meaning. It could be more money for medicine, a part of living expenses, electricity and water bills, or simply more proactiveness in daily needs.
Along with pensions, retirees also enjoy health insurance benefits according to regulations. This is an important support when the older the age, the greater the need for health care.
Stories like those of Ms. Hue and Ms. Doan also show that the value of pensions does not stop at one generation.
After many years of directly enjoying the policy, the two mothers chose to participate in voluntary social insurance for their children. What they aim for is not an immediate income, but preparation for the years to come, when their children pass the working age.
For people who are subject to compulsory social insurance participation, maintaining the social insurance contribution period is a process of accumulating benefits for the future. For freelancers and those who are not subject to compulsory participation, voluntary social insurance opens up more opportunities to proactively prepare for old age.
Because when they have passed the working age, creating a new stable source of income is no longer easy.
A peaceful old age therefore does not start from the date of receiving the retirement decision. It is prepared from the years of working, from each month of participating in social insurance and from each person's initiative towards the future.
For Ms. Hue, Ms. Doan and millions of people receiving pensions, behind the amount of money paid each month is also something difficult to measure by numbers: The feeling of still being able to proactively take care of their lives when they are old.
And perhaps, that is one of the most practical values of pensions.
