Retirees will not have to bring their books to receive their salaries.

Can receive salaryanywhere

Since May 2017, Vietnam Social Security and the Vietnam Post Corporation have piloted the application of information technology in paying monthly pensions and social insurance benefits in cash to 16,022 people in Thanh Tri district (Hanoi) and 3,705 people in Binh Giang district (Hai Duong). Specifically, beneficiaries will not have to bring their pension and social insurance benefit receipts, identity cards or photo identification; but will use their monthly pension and social insurance benefit receipt cards (Payment cards).

All information and images of beneficiaries are stored on the Payment Card and managed on the information technology system, the national centralized data of the postal industry. The Post Office will make payments every day of the month (except holidays) at any post office.

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Within the first 10 days of the month, payments will be made to beneficiaries at payment points; then payments will continue at post office transaction points until the last day of the month for those who have not received benefits. The Social Insurance Agency can manage, monitor and look up beneficiary information through connecting with the system of the General Post Office.

Meanwhile, with the current payment method (through payslips), pensioners and social insurance beneficiaries can only receive money at pre-registered fixed payment points within the prescribed time. This may cause them to wait and spend a lot of time doing procedures. On the other hand, short transaction times and large payment volumes put a lot of pressure on post office staff.

Mr. Trinh Dung Viet, a retired official in Thanh Tri district (Hanoi), assessed that using customer cards instead of pension books has brought many conveniences to monthly pensioners like him. “In the past, every time it was payday, I had to arrange my work and time to go to the paycheck point to wait in line, sometimes it took a whole morning. If I couldn't go myself, I had to authorize someone else to receive it for me. But now I can get my salary anywhere, as long as there is a post office, it's very convenient,” said Mr. Viet.

Continued expansion

Based on the pilot results, Vietnam Social Security and the Vietnam Post Corporation continue to agree to expand the pilot throughout Hanoi and Hai Duong province in the first quarter of 2018. According to the plan, Vietnam Social Security will guide, inspect and supervise the pilot, update beneficiary data; promptly provide it to the Post Office to manage beneficiaries and issue payment cards.

Meanwhile, the General Post Office prepares facilities, information technology infrastructure, and human resource training to ensure overcoming shortcomings and limitations. At the same time, organizes surveys and collects beneficiaries' opinions on their wishes to receive money through the following forms: Personal accounts, cash, and using payment cards. In addition, the General Post Office continues to research and propose provinces that are eligible for implementation so that the Vietnam Social Security can unanimously select expansion areas.

Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Post Corporation, said: Vietnam Post will resolutely apply information technology in the payment of monthly pensions and social insurance benefits in cash, to ensure that money reaches beneficiaries in the most convenient way. At the same time, it also ensures the confidentiality of beneficiary information and facilitates the connection and sharing of data between Vietnam Post and Vietnam Social Security.

According to Mr. Tuan, the pilot payment via Pension and Social Insurance Benefit Card has brought into play many advantages, creating favorable conditions for beneficiaries as well as for the Post Office and Social Insurance agencies in managing beneficiary information on the information technology system. Vietnam Post will continue to closely coordinate with Vietnam Social Insurance to further improve this work.

Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Security Nguyen Dinh Khuong emphasized that the expansion of the application of information technology in the payment of pensions and monthly social insurance benefits in cash requires the completion of documents, implementation according to the roadmap and plan, and must ensure consistency between the two parties.

In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to data security, ensure facilities and information technology infrastructure to manage beneficiaries well; maximize efficiency, add features and utilities to meet people's needs in reality; ensure connection and sharing of payment data and beneficiary management of the Post Office with the social insurance industry database. "In the process of organizing implementation, it is necessary to focus on communication work so that people understand, support and feel satisfied when using the service," Mr. Khuong emphasized.

Deputy Minister and General Director of Vietnam Social Security Nguyen Thi Minh said that the goal of applying information technology in the payment of monthly pensions and social insurance benefits in cash is aimed at the people, considering people's satisfaction as a measure to strive for. "I hope that in the coming time, Social Security and the Post Office will continue to improve the ability to apply information technology in the payment of pensions and social insurance benefits in a comprehensive manner, while ensuring information safety and security," Ms. Minh emphasized.