At the age of 77, Lò Thị Diêng from Noong Chứn village, Mường Thanh ward, faces numerous hardships in life. Her family belongs to a near-poor household, while her health is increasingly declining. Consequently, every expense, from food to medicine, must be calculated and scraped together by Diêng. For this reason, the social retirement allowance under Decree 176 has become a practical source of encouragement and support, helping Diêng cover a portion of her daily living and healthcare costs. Beyond Diêng, more than 350 senior citizens in Mường Thanh ward are also beneficiaries of this policy.

“With advanced age, my health is no longer what it used to be. Many times when I am sick, I don’t even dare to rest because there is no stable source of income,” shared Diêng. “Now, with the State’s care through a monthly allowance, I have extra money to afford medicine and daily necessities, making my life a bit lighter.”

In Nà Hỳ commune, reviewing and identifying policy beneficiaries faced numerous difficulties due to the vast territory, scattered population, and many villages being located far from the center. Concurrently, some elderly individuals lacked personal documents, possessed incomplete information, or frequently changed their residences to live with their children and grandchildren. Confronted with this reality, grassroots-level forces coordinated with village heads, prestigious individuals, and mass organizations to conduct multiple rounds of reviews and verifications, ensuring that the policy reaches the right people at the right time.

Lê Ngọc Thanh, Chairman of the Nà Hỳ commune Association of Senior Citizens, stated: “After reviewing the information and practical circumstances of the elderly, the Association cross-references them with the prescribed criteria, synthesizes the list, and advises the local authority to consider and propose them for the policy benefits. The execution process encounters certain difficulties due to the wide territory and dispersed population, yet we always strive to conduct thorough reviews so as not to miss any eligible elderly people in difficult circumstances.”

According to Decree 176, the subjects and conditions for receiving the social retirement allowance are Vietnamese citizens aged 75 or older who do not receive a monthly pension or social insurance allowance, or whose current monthly pension or social insurance allowance is lower than the retirement allowance level prescribed in Decree 176. It also covers Vietnamese citizens from full 70 to under 75 years old who belong to poor or near-poor households according to Government regulations.

The monthly social retirement allowance level stands at VND 500,000 per person. Along with this, beneficiaries are granted a free health insurance card and supported with burial costs upon their passing.

Against the backdrop of many elderly individuals having no pension and having to fend for themselves in their twilight years, this policy has become a timely anchor, helping them secure an additional source of income to cover daily life, undergo medical examinations and treatment with peace of mind, and live joyfully and healthily within their families and communities.

Mai Hoàng Hà, Deputy Director of the Department of Health, emphasized: “The social allowance policy for the elderly holds vital significance in local social security work. The policy helps secure a portion of income and elevates the living standards of senior citizens, contributing to the stability and sustainable development of the community. This also serves as a practical solution to narrow the inequality gap in society, ensuring that no one is left behind, while creating consensus and social stability.”

After nearly one year of implementation, the social retirement allowance policy has affirmed its profound humane significance and practical efficiency in social security assurance. From concrete support dedicated to elderly people in difficult circumstances, the policy continues to spread the humane spirit of the Party and State, contributing to uplifting disadvantaged situations and reinforcing public trust in social welfare policies.