Công văn 396/BHXH-TCKT

With a view to implementing the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 05/CT-TTg dated January 28, 2021 on a number of urgent measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic; the Government Office’s Notice No. 28/TB- VPCP dated February 17, 2021, announcing the conclusion of the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Standing Government’s meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control; Due to the re-emergence of the Covid-19 epidemic in the community and rapid development in a short time in some provinces and cities, in order to best ensure the benefits of pensioners, payees of social insurance and unemployment insurance benefits in an adequate, timely manner, and ensure safety, prevention and control of the epidemic in accordance with the directions of the Government, the Prime Minister and the Vietnam Social Security that request the Vietnam Post Corporation, social security agencies of the aforesaid provinces and cities (collectively referred to as provincial social security agencies) to satisfy a number of the following requirements:

1. Paying pensions and social insurance benefits in March and April 2021 in the same payment period.

2. Social security agencies of provinces must take charge of cooperating with Post Offices of provinces in:

a) Petitioning the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities (provincial People's Committees), and the Steering Committee on Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control:

- To approve plans for payment of pensions, social insurance and unemployment insurance benefits in March and April 2021 in the same payment period, and recommended measures for epidemic control and prevention, at payment points and payment time during the period of ongoing implementation of Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control suitable to specific localities for the purpose of avoidance of large gatherings and strict compliance with 5K requirements (mask - disinfection - distance – no gathering - medical declaration), and assurance of safety for pensioners and insurance benefit payees in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Directive.

Especially, at epidemic-hit places and blockades, putting forward door-to-door payment plans for the benefit of pensioners and payees. 

- Directing branches and local authorities to cooperate and create favorable conditions for payment, ensuring safety for pensioners and payees; communicating plans to pay pensions and social insurance benefits through mass media during the period of continued implementation of measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic under the directions of the Government and the Prime Minister.

b) Communicating with and notifying pensioners and payees about changes in payment methods, payment time and locations, and requesting pensioners and payees to wear masks, sanitize hands at points of payment to receive their money to ensure their safety during the period of continuation in implementation of Covid-19 prevention and control measures.

c) Checking, cooperating in taking action against, resolving and promptly complaining about problems arising in the process of implementation.

d) Strongly recommending and encouraging pensioners and payees to receive social insurance and unemployment insurance benefits via personal accounts according to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 241/QD-TTg dated February 23, 2018 on approval of the scheme for promotion of public service payments via banks such as taxes, electricity, water, tuition, medical services and payment of benefits of social security programs.

3. Vietnam Post Corporation must direct Post Offices of provinces to promptly take the following actions:

a) Cooperate with provincial social security agencies to petition provincial People's Committees, the Steering Committee for the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic on the plan for payment of pensions, social insurance and unemployment insurance benefits in March, April 2021 and the following months during the period of continued implementation of measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic.

b) Inform pensioners and payees of the locations, time of payment and measures to prevent and control the epidemic at points of payment in order for them to choose and set suitable time to receive money, and ensuring the implementation of Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control measures.

c) Strictly implement Covid-19 prevention and control measures at points of payment: Spraying disinfectants at all points of payment before and during the time postal authorities make payments; requiring postal staff, pensioners and payees to wear masks during the payment process; providing hand sanitizers and masks at all points of payment; increasing payment staff, placing more payment desks to reduce the waiting time for pensioners and payees, and avoiding gatherings of people in excess of the allowable number of people according to the Directive No. 05/CT-TTg and the Notice No. 28/TB-VPCP.

d) In order to ensure the safety for pensioners and payees, payment staff must strictly comply with the requirement for medical declaration and Covid-19 prevention measures according to the given instructions.

It is requested that Vietnam Post Corporation, social security agencies of provinces and cities mentioned above strictly and promptly implement tasks required herein. In the process of implementation, if any difficulties or problems arise, they should promptly report them to Vietnam Social Security for their guidance and action./.