Raising the standard of social welfare benefits for the elderly.

Recently, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs proposed two options for increasing social assistance allowances, including for the elderly. Option 1 is to raise the monthly social assistance allowance from 360,000 VND/person to 500,000 VND, equivalent to 33% of the rural poverty line for the 2021-2025 period.

Option 2 is to raise the monthly social assistance allowance from 360,000 VND/person to 750,000 VND, equivalent to 50% of the rural poverty line for the 2021-2025 period. Raising the social assistance allowance will somewhat improve the lives of the elderly.

Currently, there are approximately 16.1 million elderly people nationwide, accounting for over 16% of the population. Of these, more than 5.4 million are receiving pensions, social insurance benefits, and preferential allowances for those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, there are currently about 16.1 million elderly people nationwide, accounting for over 16% of the population. Of these, more than 5.4 million are receiving pensions, social insurance benefits, and preferential allowances for those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution. More than 15 million elderly people have health insurance cards.

Currently, elderly people receive social welfare benefits, preferential allowances for those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution, pensions, and social insurance benefits through state-run public service agencies and via ATM cards.

To date, 14 provinces and cities have proactively raised the social assistance standard above the prescribed level for approximately 700,000 beneficiaries, with a budget of over 3,500 billion VND; 32 provinces and cities have expanded the scope of social assistance to include elderly people in difficult circumstances and living alone.

According to assessments, the care and promotion of the role of the elderly continues to receive attention from all levels and sectors. Annually, birthday celebrations are held for over 1.2 million elderly people; periodic health check-ups are provided for 4.5 million elderly people, and health records are created for 3.5 million people.

Nationwide, there are currently over 7 million elderly people directly involved in labor, production, and business; nearly 734,000 elderly people participate in Party, government, Front, and mass organization work…

At least 95% of provinces and cities have intergenerational self-help clubs for the elderly. Nationwide, 86% of communes, wards, and towns maintain and operate funds for caring for and promoting the role of the elderly, with a total mobilized amount of nearly 300 billion VND.

Nationwide, there are currently over 7 million elderly people directly involved in labor, production, and business; nearly 734,000 elderly people participate in Party, government, Front, and mass organization work; contributing 2 million working days, donating more than 1 million square meters of land, and 260 billion VND to implement the new rural development and civilized urban development movements.

However, some localities are currently facing difficulties in allocating funds for regular medical check-ups and treatment at facilities for the elderly; they have not yet paid attention to or provided recreational areas and community spaces for this group…

In particular, social assistance policies for the elderly are still limited and at a low level. With the current social allowance for the elderly at approximately 360,000 VND/month, which is only about 17% of the average income and 24% of the rural poverty line for the 2021-2025 period, it only supports a portion of the essential needs of the people. The percentage of elderly people in poor households is 3.6%, and near-poor households is 11.6%, higher than the national average.

According to Government Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP regulating social assistance policies for social protection beneficiaries, elderly people belonging to one of the following categories are entitled to a monthly social allowance: Elderly people from poor households who have no one obligated to and entitled to support them, or who have someone obligated and entitled to support them but that person is already receiving a monthly social allowance.

Meeting of the Intergenerational Self-Help Club in Vuc Village, Thanh Liet Commune, Thanh Tri District, Hanoi City.

Elderly people aged 75 to 80 who belong to poor or near-poor households and live in communes and villages in ethnic minority and particularly disadvantaged mountainous areas.

Individuals aged 80 and above who do not receive a pension, monthly social insurance benefits, or monthly social assistance benefits. Elderly individuals from impoverished households who have no one obligated to care for them, lack suitable living conditions in the community, and are eligible for admission to a social assistance facility but have someone to care for them in the community.

Every year, the organization celebrates the birthdays of over 1.2 million elderly people; provides regular health check-ups for 4.5 million elderly people, and creates health monitoring records for 3.5 million elderly people.

Depending on the socio-economic conditions of the locality, the Provincial People's Committee shall submit to the Provincial People's Council for decision the standard level of social assistance and the level of social assistance applicable in the locality, ensuring that it is not lower than the standard level of social assistance and the level of social assistance as prescribed.

This year, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs announced that it will also conduct research and evaluate the implementation of the Law on the Elderly; and submit for promulgation a Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP regulating social assistance policies for social protection beneficiaries, with a view to raising the standard level of social assistance and expanding the scope of social assistance to suit the practical situation.

In addition, the National Strategy on the Elderly in Vietnam until 2035, with a vision to 2045, will be submitted for promulgation.

The Ministry will also coordinate with relevant agencies to implement the goal of 100% of elderly people being issued health insurance cards; expand the model of intergenerational self-help clubs; and provide training to improve the capacity of officials working with the elderly…

Source: https://ngaymoionline.com.vn/nang-muc-chuan-tro-cap-xa-hoi-cho-nguoi-cao-tuoi-51118.html