Resolving the issue of benefits for meritorious individuals who have lost their original documents.

Over the years, the Party, the State, and relevant agencies have issued and implemented many preferential policies for those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution. However, to date, there are still many cases of war invalids and martyrs whose original records have been lost, thus preventing them from receiving these preferential policies. Recently, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs issued Joint Circular 28/2013/TTLT-BLDTBXH-BQP, contributing to resolving this situation sooner.

It is difficult to verify documents when the originals are lost.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, to date, the country has recognized more than 8.8 million people who have rendered meritorious services to the nation, of which more than 1.5 million are currently receiving monthly preferential allowances from the State. Basically, most people who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution have been recognized and are receiving preferential treatment. However, to date, there are still many cases where people who have rendered meritorious services have lost their original documents and therefore have not received benefits and policies. Many cases involve individuals who fought and were wounded during the war against France but have not yet been recognized as war invalids because they have lost their original documents. Most of those whose documents are missing are people preparing to be discharged from the army and return home; they were so overjoyed to be back with their hometowns and families that they didn't pay much attention to their paperwork, resulting in their original records being lost for many years. There are also cases where local military agencies did not bother to keep the original documents, and when it came time to process benefits and policies, they were no longer available. It is very difficult to verify the identity of those who have lost all their documents, as the application process requires compliance with legal requirements.

Leaders of the 7th Military Region Command presented gifts to people who rendered meritorious services to the revolution in the area.

The case of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Kiem, born in 1941, residing in Ward 8, Go Vap District (Ho Chi Minh City), is an example. He participated in the resistance war against the US and was issued a certificate of injury, but due to the loss of the original documents, he has not yet received his war invalid benefits. Mr. Kiem stated that he enlisted in 1962, participated in many fierce battles, and was wounded twice while serving in the Quyet Thang Battalion. He was discharged in 1977. He was issued a certificate of injury No. 27/CNBT dated April 14, 1979, by the Staff Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Military Command (now the Ho Chi Minh City Command Headquarters) and his case was transferred to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs for processing his war invalid benefits. However, during the handover of documents between the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and Mr. Kiem, the original documents were lost. Currently, Mr. Kiem only has photocopies of his documents, which are insufficient to meet the requirements for consideration and resolution under current regulations.

Colonel Vu Van Chan, Head of the Policy Department of Military Region 7, stated that the case of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Kiem is being actively handled by the Political Department of Military Region 7 and other relevant agencies, but without a resolution. According to Colonel Vu Van Chan, since 1989, numerous decisions, circulars, and guiding documents have been issued, such as Circular 18, Circular 1370, Circular 16, and Circular 25, to address the entitlements of war veterans and martyrs. However, many war veterans and martyrs have not yet received their entitlements due to the loss of original documents. Over the past period, the Policy Department of Military Region 7 has collaborated with relevant agencies to resolve many cases of war veterans and martyrs who have lost their original documents. Currently, according to Colonel Vu Van Chan's estimate, there are approximately 500 cases of war invalids and martyrs in Military Region 7 who have lost their original records and have not yet received their entitlements.

Promptly resolve outstanding cases.

Determined to ensure that no war invalids are left without receiving their entitlements, the Government has instructed ministries and agencies, in coordination with relevant authorities, to guide the resolution of outstanding cases involving war invalids without original documents or witnesses. Recently, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence issued Joint Circular No. 28/2013/TTLT-BLDTBXH-BQP dated October 22, 2013, guiding the confirmation of martyrs, war invalids, and those entitled to benefits similar to war invalids in wartime who no longer have supporting documents. This Circular provides guidance on confirming martyrs, war invalids, and those entitled to benefits similar to war invalids for those who died or were injured in combat or directly served in combat before December 31, 1991, and who no longer have supporting documents, and it came into effect on December 15, 2013.

According to Colonel Vu Van Chan, Circular 28/2013/TTLT-BLDTBXH-BQP has many new points that make it easier for those with lost records to verify their eligibility and increase transparency in the review and settlement of benefits for those with meritorious service. Accordingly, the initial verification by individuals, organizations, and institutions is crucial for those with meritorious service. First, the locality of the individual must compile and publicly disclose the list for verification from multiple sources. For individuals who were formerly military personnel, the Social Policy Council and the Veterans Association are responsible for verifying whether the individual served in the army, participated in the resistance, and at what time... then forwarding the information to the relevant agencies at the district, provincial, and military region levels. Depending on the type of individual, if they are a fallen soldier, the process will be further completed; if they are a wounded soldier, their disability will be assessed to determine their eligibility. The process of completing the application according to Circular 28 helps verify the eligibility of applicants accurately and objectively, while also contributing to preventing fraud that has occurred in the past.

According to the Policy Department of Military Region 7, with the aforementioned Circular 28, many outstanding cases of war veterans who have lost their original documents will be resolved soon. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Kiem's ​​case will be guided by the relevant authorities to prepare the necessary documents in accordance with the contents of this circular. Currently, the Political Department of Military Region 7 has sent guiding documents on the implementation of Circular 28 to subordinate units and district-level Military Commands within the military region. These documents, along with the review of war veterans currently being implemented at the ward, commune, and town levels, offer hope for the prompt resolution of their preferential benefits and policies.

According to the People's Army Newspaper