Social assistance work when implementing the 2-level local government model:

"After 2 weeks of implementing the 2-level local government model, although having to adapt to many changes, reality shows that the work of ensuring social security continues to be maintained effectively, and even receives more attention," said Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Dinh Hong Phong when talking to reporters of the Hanoi Moi Newspaper.

Leaders of the Hanoi Center for Social Work and the Hanoi Children's Fund presented support to families with children in difficult and special circumstances in the city. Photo: Hong Diep

No interruptions

For the past 10 years, Ms. Truong Thi My Le (No. 17, Alley 460/7/42, Thuy Khue Street, Tay Ho Ward) has regularly received a monthly allowance for people with disabilities. From more than 300,000 VND/month, she now regularly receives a monthly allowance of 750,000 VND. "The allowance is not large, but it has increased significantly over the years, showing concern and encouragement for people with disabilities, helping us to ease the difficulties in life."

In particular, in the context of the two-level local government model being implemented from July 1, 2025, Ms. Le feels even more clearly the government's attention. Ms. Le shared: "Normally, at the end of each month, I receive the social allowance for that month. However, at the end of June (June 26), I received the full allowance for both June and July 2025, equivalent to 1.5 million VND. The advance payment of the regime makes me extremely secure, not worrying about interruption due to the transition to the new government model."

Regarding this issue, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Health Dinh Hong Phong said that all contents related to social protection work have been prepared early, remotely according to the direction of the Central and the city. In particular, units have promptly implemented the payment of subsidies and support for people under the social security policy of July right from the payment period of June 2025.

In order to avoid interruption in the payment of social benefits, as well as to apply technology in the payment of benefits, for many months now, the payment of benefits to people under social security policies through bank accounts instead of cash has been implemented and operated stably by units.

According to Head of the Social Protection Department (Department of Health) Tran Thi Hoai Huong, Hanoi currently has 204,000 social protection beneficiaries and caregivers in the community, and nearly 3,200 beneficiaries in public social assistance facilities. In the first weeks of operating the 2-level local government model, the contents related to funding and policies for social protection beneficiaries were guaranteed.

Continue to care for and support the disadvantaged

In the communes and wards after the rearrangement, the work of ensuring social security continues to be focused on. Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Lang Ward Nguyen Hong Dan shared: "In Lang Ward, there are no more poor households, but we always thoroughly understand the viewpoint of paying special attention to families who are still in difficulty, not letting them fall back into poverty, and ensuring social security in the area. During this period, although the work is still busy, the ward has included in the work program the contents of social protection, focusing on gift giving activities, providing support to people with revolutionary contributions, supporting the disadvantaged, considering these as practical activities towards the anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27, the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2".

Concerned about whether the payment of social allowances after the conversion to a two-tier local government model will encounter difficulties? Deputy Director of the Department of Health Dinh Hong Phong shared: "There is still more than a month until the next social allowance payment period, but I believe that this task will not be hindered because we have implemented the payment of allowances to beneficiaries through bank accounts."

In ensuring social security, Hanoi is a locality with many special policies, with preferential levels higher than the national standard for the disadvantaged. Promoting this tradition, on the one hand, the Department of Health consults with the city to direct communes and wards to fully implement policies for social protection beneficiaries, ensuring compliance with regulations, on the other hand, the Department continues to propose the city to issue specific resolutions in the field of social assistance and health. For example, amending Resolution No. 09/2021/NQ-HDND dated September 23, 2021 regulating the social assistance standards and social protection beneficiaries of the city. Accordingly, the content of the adjustment is to increase the number of beneficiaries in the community and in social protection centers, raising the level of benefits higher than the Central regulations so that disadvantaged people can have an increasingly better life.

Currently, the Department of Health is actively reviewing and improving the quality of operations of public social protection centers under the Department in the direction of specializing in subjects, with medical factors to suit the situation. Notably, in the coming time, the Department will assign general and specialized hospitals to connect and support health care activities for subjects in the centers. In addition, the Department will coordinate with other sectors to effectively implement the socialization of resources to better support the disadvantaged and patients in difficult circumstances.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/cong-tac-tro-cap-xa-hoi-khi-thuc-dien-mo-hinh-chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-2-cap-van-hanh-hieu-qua-bao-dam-an-sinh-xa-hoi-709006.html