Notice on payment of pensions and social insurance benefits in complicated epidemic situation

In Notice No. 167/TB-VPCP dated June 23, 2021 of the Government Office on the Conclusion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the online meeting on Covid-19 prevention and control, the Covid-19 epidemic in our country is currently under control, but locally in some localities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, the situation is complicated and difficult to predict; some provinces are at high risk of outbreaks at any time, anywhere.

In order to ensure full, timely and safe payment for pensioners, social insurance and unemployment insurance beneficiaries, as well as promote the sense of responsibility with the entire political system in preventing the Covid-19 epidemic, Vietnam Social Security requests Vietnam Post Corporation and Social Security of provinces and centrally-run cities to implement the following contents:

1.Payment of pensions and social insurance benefitsJuly and August 2021 in the same payment period.

2. The provincial Social Insurance shall coordinate with the provincial Post Office, based on the developments of the epidemic situation in each locality and area, to develop a plan to organize cash payments to beneficiaries to ensure safety in accordance with the goals and directions of the Prime Minister.

The pension payment team of Vinh City Post Office paid pension to Mr. Tran Dinh Tinh, block 3, Ha Huy Tap ward. Photo: Duc Anh.

3. Organize payment, avoid large gatherings to ensure safety against Covid-19 for beneficiaries in accordance with the direction of the Prime Minister; notify beneficiaries of changes in payment methods, payment times, and payment locations for implementation. In addition, at payment points, prepare free masks and sanitizers; require payment staff and beneficiaries to strictly follow the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health, especially to comply with wearing masks, sanitizers... according to regulations.

This is the third time in 2021 that Vietnam Social Security has proactively and flexibly directed Social Security agencies of provinces and cities to coordinate with the Postal Service to organize the payment of pensions and social insurance benefits for 2 months in the same payment period (previously, there were payment periods in March-April 2021; May-June 2021) to ensure that beneficiaries' benefits are complete, timely and safe in preventing and fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition, the industry has also stepped up the implementation of other measures to best ensure the benefits of social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance and share difficulties with businesses and employees, such as: Directing provincial social insurance agencies to coordinate with medical examination and treatment facilities to promptly pay for Covid-19 testing costs according to the health insurance regime as prescribed; organizing the prescription and dispensing of outpatient drugs for chronic diseases for a longer period of time for all subjects (up to 3 months); guiding the transfer of routes and re-examination appointments in accordance with the local epidemic situation, ensuring convenience for health insurance patients and safety in disease prevention; agreeing with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to submit to the Government a plan to temporarily suspend social insurance contributions to the pension and death benefit funds for businesses affected by the Covid-19 epidemic; ensuring timely payment of unemployment insurance benefits for participants...

Post office staff and security officers pay pensions to residents of Cam Muon commune, Que Phong district. Photo courtesy: Huong Giang

In particular, from June 1, 2021, Vietnam Social Security in coordination with the health sector officially deployed the use of health insurance card images on the VssID application in medical examination and treatment nationwide, creating convenience for participants in medical examination and treatment and helping to limit direct transactions with social insurance agencies in procedures related to paper health insurance cards, or enjoying social insurance and health insurance policies... thereby contributing to the entire political system actively and effectively preventing the Covid-19 epidemic.

Thus, in the face of the situationCovid-19 epidemicstill complicated in some localities, closely following the situation and the directions and administration of the Government and the Prime Minister on the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic, Vietnam Social Security has promptly issued flexible instructions to effectively implement the dual goal of both preventing the epidemic and performing well the political tasks of the industry, in which the timely, appropriate and safe settlement of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance regimes, ensuring the rights of participants is always the top priority of the industry./.