Vietnam to implement new social pension and welfare allowances

New regulations in Vietnam will introduce expanded social welfare and pension allowances for elderly citizens starting in late 2026. Under Decree 335/2026/NĐ-CP, elderly individuals aged 60 to under 75 who belong to poor households and lack caregivers or have caregivers already receiving monthly social assistance may be eligible for a monthly allowance of 810,000 VND. This is calculated using a 1.5 coefficient against the standard social assistance level of 540,000 VND.

For those aged 75 and older in similar circumstances, a coefficient of 2.0 applies, resulting in a monthly allowance of 1.08 million VND. Additionally, Decree 176/2025/NĐ-CP and subsequent amendments specify that citizens aged 75 and older who do not receive a pension or monthly social insurance benefits are eligible for a social retirement allowance of 540,000 VND per month starting October 5, 2026.

Provisions allow for individuals receiving low-level pensions to still qualify for higher social retirement allowances. Furthermore, local provincial authorities have the discretion to propose and implement higher social assistance standards and additional policies for disadvantaged groups if local economic conditions permit.