Vietnamese Lawmaker Proposes Broader Eligibility for Social Pension Benefits
On November 9, Vietnamese lawmakers proposed allowing older people who meet the age requirement to receive social pension benefits even if they already receive a pension or monthly social insurance benefits. They also proposed lowering the general eligibility age to 70 and the age for members of poor and near-poor households to 65. These are proposals, not current rules.
On the morning of November 9, Vietnamese National Assembly deputy Nguyễn Thị Yến Nhi proposed considering an amendment to Article 21 during discussions on draft revisions to the Social Insurance Law. Under her proposal, older people who reach the prescribed age could receive social pension benefits whether or not they receive a pension or monthly social insurance benefits. She said the two types of benefits have different bases and purposes, so having a pension alone should not disqualify an older person.
Vietnamese National Assembly deputy Nguyễn Thị Yến Nhi, who proposed changing the eligibility conditions for social pension benefits.（VietVance）
The current Social Insurance Law provides that people aged 75 or older who do not receive a pension or monthly social insurance benefits may receive social pension benefits if they meet the other legal requirements. Nguyễn Thị Yến Nhi said voters had told her that some older people receive small pensions but still have to cover their own living, medication and healthcare costs. She therefore called for further consideration of the needs of people receiving low pensions.
She also proposed lowering the eligibility age to 70 for older people generally and 65 for members of poor and near-poor households. The current thresholds are 75 and 70, respectively. She noted that the law allows the National Assembly Standing Committee, on a government proposal, to gradually lower the eligibility age in line with socioeconomic conditions and the state budget’s capacity in each period.
Vietnamese National Assembly deputy Phạm Văn Hòa, who supports considering a lower eligibility age for social pension benefits.（VietVance）
Phạm Văn Hòa, a deputy from the Đồng Tháp delegation, also supported considering a reduction of the general eligibility age to 70. He said many older voters he had met hoped they would not have to wait until age 75 to receive the benefit. The age changes proposed by the two deputies remain policy proposals and have not become new eligibility rules.
Source: VietVance
