Vietnam

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1961 (public-sector employees).

Current laws: 2009 (elderly), 2012 (disabled persons), 2013 (social assistance), and 2014 (social insurance).

Type of program: Social insurance and social assistance system.

Note: As of December 1, 2018, certain foreign national employees are covered under the social insurance program. Employers will pay contributions on the employees' behalf until 2022, when the same contribution rates that apply to Vietnamese citizens will also apply to foreign nationals.

Coverage

Social insurance: Public- and private-sector employees with at least a one-month contract, including household workers; employees in agriculture, fishing, and salt production; civil servants; employees of cooperatives and unions; police and military personnel; part-time workers in communes, wards, and townships; and certain foreign citizens legally working in Vietnam.

Voluntary coverage for self-employed persons and citizens of Vietnam without mandatory coverage.

Social assistance: Needy persons.

Source of Funds

Insured person

Social insurance: 8% of gross monthly covered earnings.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are 20 times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Social assistance: None.

Self-employed person

Social insurance: 22% of covered declared earnings.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the rural poverty line.

The rural poverty line is 700,000 dong a month.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are 20 times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Social assistance: None.

Employer

Social insurance: 14% of monthly covered payroll.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are 20 times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Social assistance: None.

Government

Social insurance: Provides subsidies as needed; the total cost of old-age pensions for workers who retired before 1995; contributes as an employer.

Social assistance: The total cost.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension (social insurance): Age 60 (men) or age 55 (women) with at least 20 years of contributions (at least 15 years of contributions for women civil servants living in communes, wards, or townships).

Age 55 (men) or age 50 (women and coal miners) with at least 20 years of contributions, including at least 15 years of employment in coal mining or other hazardous or arduous working conditions, or in certain geographic regions; at any age with at least 20 years of contributions, including 15 years in extremely hazardous or arduous working conditions, and an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61%.

Age 51 (men, gradually rising to age 55 by 2020) or age 46 (women, gradually rising to age 50 by 2020) with at least 20 years of contributions and an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61%.

Age 50 (men) or age 45 (women) with at least 20 years of contributions and an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 81%.

At any age with at least 20 years of contributions if the insured contracted HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

For military and police personnel, age 55 (men) or age 50 (women) with at least 20 years of contributions; age 50 (men) or age 45 (women) with at least 20 years of contributions, including at least 15 years of employment in hazardous or arduous working conditions or in certain regions; age 50 (men) or age 45 (women) with at least 20 years of contributions and an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61%.

Employment must cease.

Pension supplement: Paid if the insured had more than 30 years (men) or 25 years (women) of contributions.

Old-age grant (social insurance): Age 60 (men) or age 55 (women) with less than 20 years of contributions (less than 15 years for women civil servants living in communes, wards, or townships) and does not qualify for an old-age pension.

At any age with less than 15 years of contributions and an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61%.

At any age if diagnosed with certain specified diseases or for demobilized army or police personnel who do not qualify for an old-age pension. If emigrating permanently, with less than 20 years of contributions after 12 months of leave with no paid contributions during the leave period.

Old-age social pension (social assistance): Aged 60 to 79, needy, and living alone without family support; or aged 80 or older and not receiving a social insurance pension.

Disability pension (social insurance): See the social insurance old-age pension.

Disability allowance (social assistance): Must have an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61% and not qualify for a social insurance pension.

Caregiver support (social assistance): Paid to caregivers of persons with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least an 81%.

Survivor pension (social insurance): The deceased had at least 15 years of contributions, received or was entitled to receive a social insurance old-age pension, or was a disability pensioner with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61%. The benefit is paid to up to four eligible survivors.

Eligible survivors include a widower aged 60 or older or a widow aged 55 or older with income less than the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants (at any age for a widow(er) with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 81%); children younger than age 18 (at any age with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 81%); a father (aged 60 or older) or a mother (aged 55 or older) with an income less than the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants (at any age with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 81%); or a father-in-law aged 60 or older or a mother-in-law aged 55 or older with income less than the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants (at any age with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 81%).

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Survivor allowance (social insurance): Paid to survivors who do not qualify for a survivor pension if the deceased received or was entitled to receive an old-age or disability pension.

Survivor grant (social insurance): Paid if the deceased had less than 15 years of contributions.

Funeral grant (social insurance): Paid to the person who pays for the funeral if the deceased received the old-age or disability pension or had at least 12 months of contributions.

Funeral allowance (social assistance): Paid to cover the cost of the funeral if the deceased was aged 60 or older, needy, and living alone without family support; aged 80 or older and not receiving any social insurance pension; with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61% and not receiving any social insurance pension; or receiving the orphan benefit, single parent benefit, HIV allowance, or disabled child allowance (see Family Allowances).

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension (social insurance): 45% of the insured's average monthly covered earnings is paid for the first 16 years (men, gradually rising to 20 years by 2022) or 15 years (women) of contributions plus 2% of the insured's average monthly covered earnings for each year of contributions exceeding 16 years (men, gradually rising to 20 years by 2022) or 15 years (women).

The pension is reduced by 2% of the insured's average monthly covered earnings for each year the pension is claimed before the insured's normal retirement age due to loss of work capacity.

Average monthly covered earnings for private-sector employees are based on the whole contribution period; average monthly covered earnings for civil servants are based on the last five, six, eight, or 10 years of contributions, depending on when the insured began contributing.

The minimum monthly old-age pension is the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong (July 2018).

The maximum monthly old-age pension is 75% of the insured's covered average monthly earnings.

Pension supplement: A lump sum of 0.5 times the insured's average monthly covered earnings is paid for each year of contributions exceeding 30 years (men) or 25 years (women).

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted based on changes in the cost-of-living index and economic growth.

Old-age grant (social insurance): A lump sum is paid of 1.5 times the insured's average monthly covered earnings in the last five years for years of contributions before 2014, plus 2 times the insured's average monthly covered earnings in the last five years for contributions since 2014.

Average monthly covered earnings for private-sector employees are based on the whole contribution period; average monthly covered earnings for civil servants are based on the last five, six, eight, or 10 years of contributions, depending on when the insured began contributing.

Old-age social pension (social assistance): 405,000 dong a month is paid if aged 60 to 79, needy, and living alone without family support; 540,000 dong a month if older than age 80; 675,000 dong if aged 60 or older with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 81%; 1,080,000 dong a month if aged 60 or older, needy, and with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 81%, or aged 60 or older and living in extremely difficult circumstances.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension (social insurance): Calculated in the same way as the old-age pension.

Disability allowance (social assistance): 405,000 dong a month is paid with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61% but less than 81%; 540,000 dong a month with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 81%; 810,000 dong a month with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 81% and living in extremely difficult circumstances; 405,000 dong a month with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61% and pregnant or raising a child younger than age 3; and 540,000 dong a month with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61%, pregnant, and raising one child younger than age 3, or with an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 61%, not pregnant, and raising at least two children younger than age 3.

Provinces with higher fiscal capacity may provide higher allowances.

Caregiver support (social assistance): 405,000 dong a month is paid if caring for one person; 810,000 dong a month if caring for at least two people.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension (social insurance): 50% of the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is paid for each eligible survivor; 70% if the survivor has no guardian, up to four survivors.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Survivor allowance (social insurance): If the deceased died within the first two months of receiving an old-age or disability pension, a lump sum of 48 times the deceased's old-age or disability pension is paid. The lump sum is reduced by 50% of the deceased's old-age or disability pension for each month the deceased received a pension after the second month.

The minimum survivor allowance is three times the deceased's old-age or disability pension.

Survivor grant (social insurance): A lump sum is paid of 1.5 times the deceased's average monthly covered earnings in the last five years for years of contributions before 2014, plus 2 times the deceased's average monthly covered earnings in the last five years for contributions since 2014.

Funeral grant (social insurance): A lump sum of 10 times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is paid.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Funeral allowance (social assistance): A lump sum of 5,400,000 dong is paid.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (http://www.molisa.gov.vn/) provides general supervision.

Vietnam Social Security agency (https://baohiemxahoi.gov.vn/Pages/default.aspx) collects contributions, administers the social insurance program, and implements policy.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1961 (public-sector employees).

Current laws: 2005 (medical benefits); 2008 (health insurance), implemented in 2009; 2014 (health insurance), implemented in 2015; 2014 (social insurance); and 2018 (social insurance, occupational safety, and health).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Note: As of December 1, 2018, certain foreign national employees are covered under the social insurance program. Employers will pay contributions on the employees' behalf until 2022, when the same contribution rates that apply to Vietnamese citizens will also apply to foreign nationals.

Coverage

Cash benefits: Public- and private-sector employees, including household workers, with at least a one-month contract; employees in agriculture, fishing, and salt production; civil servants; employees of cooperatives and unions; police and military personnel; part-time workers in communes, wards and townships; and certain foreign citizens legally working in Vietnam.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons, certain military personnel, and citizens of Vietnam working abroad under a fixed-term contract.

Medical benefits: Citizens of Vietnam.

Source of Funds

Insured person

Cash benefits: None.

Medical benefits: 1.5% of gross monthly covered earnings.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are 20 times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Self-employed person

Cash benefits: Not applicable.

Medical benefits: 4.5% of the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants, 3.15% for the second member of the household, 2.7% for the third, 2.25% for the fourth, 1.8% for the fifth, 1.35% for civil servants for near-poor families, and 2.1% for students.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are 20 times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

Employer

Cash benefits: 3% of monthly covered payroll.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are 20 times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Medical benefits: 3% of monthly covered payroll.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are 20 times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Government

Cash benefits: None; contributes as an employer.

Medical benefits: Provides subsidies as needed; pays contributions for certain groups of insured persons, such as children younger than age 6, needy persons and persons with disabilities; 3.15% of the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants for the near-poor; 0.9% of the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants for students; contributes as an employer.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are 20 times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Qualifying Conditions

Cash sickness benefit: There is no minimum qualifying period. The incapacity must not be work-related, self-inflicted, or related to drug or alcohol abuse.

The cash sickness benefit is also paid to an insured parent caring for a sick child younger than age 7.

Cash maternity benefit: Must have at least six months of contributions in the last 12 months before childbirth. Also paid for the adoption of a child younger than age 6 months; for an abortion, miscarriage or stillbirth; or to a surrogate and an intended mother.

Cash paternity benefit: Paid to an insured father who is paying contributions.

Birth grant: Must have at least six months of contributions in the last 12 months before childbirth. Also paid for the adoption of a child younger than age 6 months.

Medical benefits: Provided for a non-occupational injury or illness. The insured must have at least 30 days of contributions for normal medical services; for specialized medical services the required contribution period varies depending on membership groups and type of services.

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit: 75% of the insured's last monthly earnings before the incapacity began is paid for up to 30 days in a calendar year with less than 15 years of contributions; 40 days with 15 to 30 years; 60 days with more than 30 years. If the insured is engaged in hazardous or arduous work or working in certain regions, the benefit is paid for up to 40 days in a calendar year with less than 15 years of contributions; 50 days with 15 to 30 years; 70 days with more than 30 years. For specific illnesses requiring long-term treatment the sickness benefit is paid for 180 days in a calendar year and a reduced benefit thereafter. The maximum duration of paid sick leave for specified illnesses is the total contribution period.

For convalescence and rehabilitation after a sickness, 30% of the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is paid for up to five, seven, or 10 days in a calendar year.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

75% of the insured's earnings is paid for up to 20 days in a calendar year to care for a sick child.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted based on changes in the cost-of-living index and economic growth.

Maternity benefit: 100% of the insured's average monthly earnings in the last six months before the maternity leave began is paid for five one-day leave periods (or two-day leave periods in special cases) for prenatal care; for six months during maternity leave or to mothers for adopting a child younger than age 6 months. For multiple births, an extra month of leave is paid for each additional child. The benefit is paid to a surrogate mother until she gives the newborn to the intended mother; for the intended mother, from the time she receives the child until the child is six months old.

A female employee can return to work before the end of the maternity leave and receive wages and maternity care if she returns to work after at least four months of leave and has an advance agreement with her employer.

For convalescence and rehabilitation after maternity leave, within the first 30 work days after the maternity leave period, 30% of the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is paid for up to five, seven, or 10 days a year.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Paternity benefit: 100% of the insured's average monthly earnings in the last six months is paid for five days (up to 14 days in certain circumstances) after childbirth. If the mother dies during childbirth, up to six months of unused maternity leave passes to the father.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted based on changes in the cost-of-living index and economic growth.

Birth grant: A lump sum of two times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is paid for each child born or for each adopted child younger than age 6 months. When only the father is covered by social insurance, the father is entitled to a benefit of two times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants for each child in the month of the birth.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits include medical exams and care, preventive care, rehabilitation, maternity care (including a surrogate mother), and transfers between certain hospitals for certain insured persons.

100%, 95%, or 80% of the cost of primary services is paid, depending on the level of medical services. 100%, 60%, or 40% of the cost of specialized services is paid, depending on the level of medical services. Medical benefits for ethnic minorities and poor households are free.

Dependents' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits for dependents are the same as those for the insured.

Medical benefits for children younger than age 6, poor households, and students are free. Near-poor households pay a reduced rate. Dependents of other insured persons pay a premium depending on the number of insured persons in the household.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (http://www.molisa.gov.vn/) provides general supervision for cash benefits.

Ministry of Health (http://moh.gov.vn/) provides general supervision for health insurance.

Vietnam Social Security agency (https://baohiemxahoi.gov.vn/Pages/default.aspx) collects contributions, pays cash benefits, implements health insurance policy, and manages the health insurance fund.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First laws: 1947 and 1950.

Current laws: 2012 (labor code), implemented in 2013; and 2014 (social insurance).

Type of program: Social insurance system and employer-liability (temporary disability) system.

Note: As of December 1, 2018, certain foreign national employees are covered under the existing social insurance program. Employers will pay contributions on the employees' behalf until 2022, when the same contribution rates that apply to Vietnamese citizens will also apply to foreign nationals.

Coverage

Public- and private-sector employees, including household workers, with at least a one-month contract; employees in agriculture, fishing, and salt production; civil servants; employees of cooperatives and unions; police and military personnel; part-time workers in communes, wards, and townships, and certain foreign citizens legally working in Vietnam.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons.

Source of Funds

Insured person

Social insurance: None.

Employer liability (temporary disability benefits): None.

Self-employed person

Social insurance: Not applicable.

Employer liability (temporary disability benefits): Not applicable.

Employer

Social insurance: 0.5% of monthly payroll.

Employer liability (temporary disability benefits): The total cost.

Government

Social insurance: None; contributes as an employer.

Employer liability (temporary disability benefits): None; contributes as an employer.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits (social insurance and employer liability): There is no minimum qualifying period. Must have a loss of work capacity of at least 5% due to an injury that took place at work, while on assignment for work, during the commute to and from work, or as a result of an occupational disease according to a schedule in law.

Attendance supplement (social insurance): There is no minimum qualifying period. Must have a loss of work capacity of at least 81% due to a work injury resulting in rachioplegia (facial paralysis), total blindness, paraplegia, amputation of two legs, or a mental illness, according to a schedule in law.

Temporary Disability Benefits

Temporary disability benefit (employer liability): 100% of the employee's earnings from the first day of treatment until the employee is recovered, discharged from the hospital, or assessed with a permanent disability.

A Ministry of Health medical board determines if the employee is recovered or has a permanent disability; and assesses the degree of loss of work capacity.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability benefit (social insurance): 30% of the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is paid for an assessed loss of work capacity of 31%; an additional 2% of the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is paid for each additional 1% loss of work capacity, plus 0.5% of earnings in the month before the disability began for the first year of contributions and 0.3% of earnings for each additional year of contributions.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Attendance supplement (social insurance): A benefit equal to the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is paid in addition to the permanent disability benefit.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Disability grant (social insurance): Five times the minimum wage for civil servants is paid for an assessed loss of work capacity of 5%; an additional 50% of the minimum wage for civil servants paid for each additional 1% loss of work capacity; and 50% of the insured's last monthly earnings for the first year of contributions plus 30% for each additional year of contributions.

For convalescence and rehabilitation after a work injury or an occupational disease, 25% (at home) or 40% (in a nursing home) of the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is paid for five to 10 days a year.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

A Ministry of Health medical board assesses the loss of work capacity.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits include inpatient and outpatient treatment, surgery, medicine, and rehabilitation, until recovery. The employer pays the medical costs for an insured employee who receives treatment as an inpatient in the hospital from the day the work injury occurred or the occupational disease began to the day the insured is discharged from the hospital.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension (social insurance): See Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Death allowance (social insurance): A lump sum of 36 times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is paid if the insured died as a result of a work accident, an occupational disease, or during the first medical treatment after a work accident or an occupational disease.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

Funeral grant (social insurance): See Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (http://www.molisa.gov.vn/) provides general supervision.

Vietnam Social Security agency (https://baohiemxahoi.gov.vn/Pages/default.aspx) implements policy, collects contributions, and administers the social insurance program.

Unemployment

Regulatory Framework

First law: 2006 (social insurance), implemented in 2009.

Current laws: 2013 (employment), implemented in 2015; and 2014 (social insurance).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Citizens of Vietnam who are public- and private-sector employees with seasonal, job-specific, fixed-term, or permanent contracts; certain military personnel; employees of cooperatives; and household businesses.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 1% of gross monthly covered earnings.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are 20 times the legal regional monthly minimum wage.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

The legal regional monthly minimum wage for private-sector employees for Region I is 3,980,000 dong, Region II is 3,530,000 dong, Region III is 3,090,000 dong, and Region IV is 2,760,000 dong.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: 1% of monthly covered payroll.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are 20 times the legal regional monthly minimum wage.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

The legal regional monthly minimum wage for private-sector employees for Region I is 3,980,000 dong, Region II is 3,530,000 dong, Region III is 3,090,000 dong, and Region IV is 2,760,000 dong.

Government: None; contributes as an employer.

Qualifying Conditions

Must have at least 12 months of contributions in the last 24 months, be registered as unemployed, and not have found a job within 15 days of registration. Seasonal workers must have at least 12 months of contributions in the last 36 months.

The benefit is suspended if the insured refuses two suitable job offers for no plausible reason.

Unemployment Benefits

60% of the insured's average monthly earnings in the six months before unemployment is paid for three months with 12 to 36 months of contributions, plus one month for each additional 12 months of contributions, up to 12 months. The benefit is paid after a 15-day waiting period.

The maximum monthly unemployment benefit for private-sector employees is five times the legal regional monthly minimum wage.

The maximum monthly unemployment benefit for civil servants is five times the legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants.

The legal monthly minimum wage for civil servants is 1,390,000 dong.

The legal regional monthly minimum wage for private-sector employees for Region I is 3,980,000 dong, Region II is 3,530,000 dong, Region III is 3,090,000 dong, and Region IV is 2,760,000 dong.

Benefits also include health insurance coverage, vocational training, and job placement support.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (http://www.molisa.gov.vn/) provides general supervision.

Vietnam Social Security agency (https://baohiemxahoi.gov.vn/Pages/default.aspx) collects contributions and administers the program.

Family Allowances

Regulatory Framework

First laws: 2007 (decree on social assistance) and 2010 (decree on education).

Current laws: 2010 (social assistance), 2013 (education), and 2013 (social assistance).

Type of program: Social assistance system.

Coverage

Needy citizens of Vietnam.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: None.

Employer: None.

Government: The total cost.

Qualifying Conditions

Orphan benefit: Paid to a child younger than age 16 (age 22 if a full-time student) if he or she has been abandoned, if both parents are deceased, if one parent is deceased and the other is missing or imprisoned, or if both parents are imprisoned.

Single parent benefit: Paid to a single and needy main care provider of a child younger than age 16 (age 22 if a full-time student).

HIV allowance: Paid to a person at any age if he or she is needy, diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, with no work capacity, and not receiving any other monthly pension or benefit.

Disabled child allowance: Paid for a child assessed with a degree of disability of at least 61%.

Education allowance (full tuition exemption): Paid to a needy family with a child in kindergarten, primary, or secondary school; aged 16 to 18 if enrolled in a vocational training center and both parents are deceased, if one parent is deceased and the other is in prison, or if both parents are in prison. Paid to an ethnic minority family with a child in kindergarten, primary, or secondary school if living in a remote area or with a child enrolled in a vocational training center or a university and classified as needy.

Education allowance (partial tuition exemption): Paid to a near-poor family with a child in kindergarten, primary, or secondary school; a family with a child enrolled in a vocational training center; a family of a civil servant with a child in kindergarten, primary, or secondary school and with one family member who has an assessed loss of work capacity of at least 31% that is the result of a work injury or an occupational disease.

Health care card: Provided to persons receiving the orphan benefit, single parent benefit, HIV allowance, or disabled child allowance.

Family Allowance Benefits

Orphan benefit: 675,000 dong a month is paid for a child younger than age 4; 405,000 dong a month for a child aged 4 or older. If the child does not have a legal guardian and is living in extremely difficult circumstances, 1,350,000 dong a month is paid for a child younger than age 4; 1,080,000 for a child aged 4 to 16; and 405,000 dong a month for a child aged 17 to 22 who is a full-time student.

Provinces with higher fiscal capacity may provide higher allowances.

Single parent benefit: 270,000 dong a month is paid for one child; 540,000 a month for at least two children.

HIV allowance: 675,000 dong a month is paid for a child younger than age 4; 540,000 dong a month if aged 4 to 16; and 405,000 dong a month if aged 17 or older.

Disabled child allowance: 540,000 dong a month is paid if for a child with an assessed degree of disability of 61% to 80%; 675,000 dong a month with an assessed degree of disability of at least 81%; 1,080,000 dong a month if aged 4 to 16, assessed with a degree of disability of at least 61%, and living in extremely difficult circumstances; or 1,350,000 dong a month if younger than age 4, assessed with a degree of disability of at least 61%, and living in extremely difficult circumstances.

Education allowance (full tuition exemption): 100% of tuition fees is paid.

Education allowance (partial tuition exemption): 50% of tuition fees is paid.

Health care card: Free access to ambulatory and basic hospital care as well as advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services. In addition, certain transportation costs are covered for needy persons and persons receiving allowances.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (http://www.molisa.gov.vn/) provides general supervision and administers social pensions, orphans, adoption, disability, and HIV allowances.

Ministry of Education and Training (https://www.moet.gov.vn/) provides general supervision and administers the education allowances.

Ministry of Health (http://moh.gov.vn/) provides general supervision of health insurance policies.