The Government has issued Decree 335/2026/ND-CP regulating social assistance policies. One of the most notable contents is the adjustment to increase the social pension allowance level.
According to new regulations, people currently receiving social pension benefits will be applied a new allowance level of 540,000 VND/month from July 1, 2026. In case they have not been paid according to the new level in July, August and September, beneficiaries will be entitled to the difference according to regulations.
According to Article 2 of Decree 176/2025/ND-CP, there are two groups of subjects entitled to monthly social pension benefits.
The first is Vietnamese citizens aged 75 and over.
The second is Vietnamese citizens from 70 years old to under 75 years old from poor or near-poor households.
The social pension allowance level is adjusted according to new regulations in Decree 335/2026/ND-CP on regular social assistance policies in the community; receiving care and nurturing in the community; emergency assistance and care and nurturing at social assistance facilities.
Decree 335/2026/ND-CP takes effect from October 5, 2026.
Notably, although the decree takes effect from October, the policy on social pension benefits is applied from July 1, 2026.
In Article 31 of Decree 335/2026/ND-CP, the social pension allowance level is regulated at 540,000 VND/person/month.
Article 32 of the decree clearly stipulates that subjects currently enjoying regimes and policies according to Decree 20/2021/ND-CP and Decree 176/2025/ND-CP are transferred to the corresponding level specified in Decree 335/2026/ND-CP from July 1, 2026.
The Chairman of the Commune-level People's Committee is responsible for reviewing the list of beneficiaries of policies and deciding on payment according to the new level from July 1, 2026.
Thus, people currently receiving social pension benefits under Decree 176/2025/ND-CP will receive a new level of 540,000 VND/month, calculated from July 1, 2026.
In case people eligible for allowances have not been paid according to the new level in July, August and September 2026, the amount to be recovered will be calculated according to the difference between the new allowance level and the received level.
If you have not received the allowance for all 3 months according to the new level, the corresponding total amount is:
540,000 VND x 3 months = 1,620,000 VND/person.
Thus, people who are eligible for social pension benefits and are eligible for the new level from July 1, 2026 can receive a total of 1.62 million VND for 3 months of July, August and September 2026, if they have not been paid during this time.
Specific payments are made by competent authorities in the locality based on reviewing the list of people receiving allowances and determining the level to be enjoyed.
For cases that have received allowances in July, August and September but have not been adjusted to 540,000 VND/month, the amount of money people receive additionally will be the remaining difference of each month.
People eligible for benefits need to follow the notice of the commune-level People's Committee where they reside to know the time and method of receiving the allowance, as well as the amount of repayment if any.
