Regulations on pension eligibility conditions in Vietnam

In Vietnam, regulations regarding pension eligibility are specifically outlined in the Social Insurance Law and related implementing documents. Below are some key points regarding pension eligibility conditions in Vietnam:

Pension Eligibility Conditions:

1. Employees specified in points a, b, c, d, g, h, and i of Article 2, Clause 1 of the Social Insurance Law, excluding cases specified in Clause 3 of Article 54, are eligible for a pension when they retire after having paid social insurance premiums for a minimum of 20 years. The following conditions apply:

a) Men must be at least 60 years old, and women must be at least 55 years old.

b) Men aged 55 to 60, women aged 50 to 55, with at least 15 years of work in arduous, hazardous, dangerous, or especially arduous and hazardous occupations listed by the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, or at least 15 years of work in areas with regional allowances with a coefficient of 0.7 or higher.

c) Employees aged 50 to 55 with at least 20 years of social insurance contributions, including 15 years of work in underground coal mining.

d) Individuals infected with HIV/AIDS due to occupational accidents.

2. Employees specified in points d and e of Article 2, Clause 1 of the Social Insurance Law who retire with at least 20 years of social insurance contributions are eligible for a pension under the following conditions:

a) Men must be at least 55 years old, and women must be at least 50 years old, except for cases specified in the laws governing military officers, police officers, and other relevant regulations.

b) Men aged 50 to 55, women aged 45 to 50, with at least 15 years of work in arduous, hazardous, dangerous, or especially arduous and hazardous occupations listed by the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, or at least 15 years of work in areas with regional allowances with a coefficient of 0.7 or higher.

c) Individuals infected with HIV/AIDS due to occupational accidents.

3. Female workers engaged in specialized or non-specialized activities at the commune, ward, or town level, who have contributed to social insurance for 15 to less than 20 years and are at least 55 years old, are eligible for a pension.

Conditions for Pension Eligibility in the Case of Reduced Work Capacity:

1. Employees specified in points a, b, c, d, g, h, and i of Article 2, Clause 1 of the Social Insurance Law who retire with at least 20 years of social insurance contributions are eligible for a pension at a lower rate than those meeting the standard pension eligibility conditions specified in points a and b of Clause 1, Article 54 of the Social Insurance Law if they fall into one of the following cases:

a) From January 1, 2016, men must be at least 51 years old, and women must be at least 46 years old, with a work capacity reduction of 61% or more to be eligible for a pension due to reduced work capacity. Each subsequent year adds one year to the age requirement until 2020, after which men must be at least 55 years old, and women must be at least 50 years old, to be eligible for a pension due to reduced work capacity with a reduction of 61% or more.

b) Men must be at least 50 years old, women must be at least 45 years old, and have a work capacity reduction of 81% or more.

c) Have a work capacity reduction of 61% or more and have at least 15 years of work in particularly arduous, hazardous, dangerous occupations listed by the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health.

2. Employees specified in points d and e of Article 2, Clause 1 of the Social Insurance Law who retire with at least 20 years of social insurance contributions and have a work capacity reduction of 61% or more are eligible for a pension at a lower rate than those meeting the standard pension eligibility conditions specified in points a and b of Clause 2, Article 54 of the Social Insurance Law if they fall into one of the following cases:

a) Men must be at least 50 years old, and women must be at least 45 years old.

b) Have at least 15 years of work in particularly arduous, hazardous, dangerous occupations listed by the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health.