The government recently issued Decree 157/2025, detailing aspects of the Social Insurance Law regarding mandatory social insurance contributions for military personnel, police officers, and permanent militia members. The decree takes effect on 1/7.

The policy applies to officers and professional soldiers in the military; officers, professional non-commissioned officers, technical officers, and technical non-commissioned officers in the police force; those working in cryptography and receiving salaries equivalent to military personnel; non-commissioned officers and soldiers in the military; non-commissioned officers and conscripted soldiers in the police force; military, police, and cryptography trainees receiving stipends; and permanent militia members.

It also applies to individuals studying, training, working, or researching abroad who still receive salaries or allowances for military rank and living expenses domestically, and who contribute to social insurance according to regulations.

Female military musicians practice at Mieu Mon National Training Center in May 2025, preparing for the parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on 2/9. Photo: Giang Huy

Female military musicians practice at Mieu Mon National Training Center in May 2025, preparing for the parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on 2/9. Photo: Giang Huy

Those who have made mandatory social insurance contributions for at least 15 years are eligible for retirement upon leaving their jobs if they meet one of the following criteria:

They have reached an age up to 5 years younger than the retirement age stipulated in the Labor Code. In 2025, the retirement age for men working under normal conditions is 61 years and 3 months, and for women, it is 56 years and 8 months. This will gradually increase until it reaches 62 for men in 2028 and 60 for women in 2035. Therefore, the lowest retirement age for men in the armed forces in 2025 is 56 years and 3 months, and for women, it is 51 years and 8 months. The adjustment roadmap is as follows:

The retirement age can be further reduced by 5 years for those who have paid social insurance for at least 15 years and work in arduous, hazardous, or particularly arduous and hazardous jobs specified in the official list, or those working in extremely difficult socio-economic areas, including time spent working in locations with a regional allowance coefficient of 0.7 or higher before 1/1/2021.

The retirement age adjustment roadmap for workers in this category is as follows:

The retirement policy also applies to workers infected with HIV/AIDS due to occupational accidents, regardless of their age.

For those who have paid social insurance for at least 20 years, the retirement policy applies to male military personnel and police officers with at least 25 years of service, and female military personnel and police officers with at least 20 years of service, if their respective forces no longer have positions for them or they cannot transfer to another sector; military personnel who have reached the maximum service age; police officers who have reached the end of their service term; and those working in cryptography with at least 25 years of service for men and 20 years for women who have paid social insurance but whose agencies no longer have positions for them or they cannot transfer to another sector.

Those who have paid mandatory social insurance for at least 20 years and have a reduced working capacity of 61% or more are entitled to a lower pension. This policy applies to those up to 5 years younger than the retirement age according to the roadmap, and regardless of age for those who have paid social insurance for at least 15 years and work in particularly arduous, hazardous jobs specified in the list issued by the competent authority.

For those whose birth date and month are unknown but whose birth year is known, January 1st of their birth year will be used to calculate their retirement age. If workers no longer have original documents to prove their social insurance contribution history, substitute documents such as labor contracts, demobilization decisions, recruitment decisions, or other relevant documents related to their service period can be used.

Workers who have reached the retirement age but have paid mandatory social insurance for 14 years and 6 months to less than 15 years; or those who have paid for 19 years and 6 months to less than 20 years but have a reduced working capacity of 61% or more, work in arduous or hazardous jobs, or contracted HIV/AIDS while on duty, can make a one-time payment for the remaining months to qualify for a pension.

Special Forces demonstrate martial arts at the 2024 International Defense Exhibition. Photo: Hieu Le

Special Forces demonstrate martial arts at the 2024 International Defense Exhibition. Photo: Hieu Le

Regarding pension amounts, for male workers who have contributed for 15 to less than 20 years, the monthly pension is equal to 40% of the average monthly salary used as the basis for social insurance contributions, corresponding to 15 years. Each subsequent year adds 1%. From the 20th year, the pension amount for men is 45% of the average salary used as the basis for contributions, with each subsequent year adding 2%.

For female workers, the pension amount is calculated as 45% of the average salary used as the basis for social insurance contributions, corresponding to 15 years of contribution. Each subsequent year adds 2%.

The pension amount for those working in particularly specialized roles within the armed forces is as follows: For those who have worked for at least 10 years and whose benefit rate has not yet reached the maximum of 75% upon retirement, the rate is calculated as 50% for men and 55% for women for the first 15 years of social insurance contributions. For partial months, 1 to 6 months are calculated as 1.5%, and 7 to 11 months as 3%. When receiving this benefit, workers are not entitled to a one-time allowance, and the increased pension amount is guaranteed by state funding.

This pension calculation method does not apply to those who have committed disciplinary violations in the military or police force, or have committed offenses that led to their dismissal.

The decree stipulates that the salary used as the basis for mandatory social insurance contributions for non-commissioned officers and soldiers in the military; non-commissioned officers and conscripted soldiers in the police force; military, police, and cryptography trainees receiving stipends; and permanent militia members will gradually increase according to a roadmap. Specifically, for the first two years, the monthly contribution is twice the reference amount, increasing by 0.5 times each subsequent year, up to a maximum of 4 times the reference amount.

This contribution basis applies to workers who joined before and after 1/7. The two-year period is calculated from the time of enlistment, joining the people's police force, receiving stipends, or joining the permanent militia.

Hong Chieu