6 new benefits and voluntary social insurance contribution levels

What is voluntary social insurance? How many modes does voluntary insurance have? What are the 6 benefits of participating in voluntary social insurance? Voluntary social insurance contribution rates.

What is voluntary social insurance?

• Voluntary social insurance (VSI) is a social insurance regime protected by the state and implemented by the social insurance agency. Employees participating in voluntary social insurance have the right to choose the method and level of contribution appropriate to their income;
• Participation in this social insurance is completely voluntary, employees can choose to participate or not;
• Citizens aged 15 years or older, not in the group of subjects participating in compulsory social insurance and not receiving pension, social insurance benefits, monthly allowances can participate in voluntary social insurance (based on Clause 4, Article 2 of the Law on Social Insurance 2024 effective from July 1, 2025).

See also:

>> Subjects not required to pay compulsory social insurance;

>> Distinguish between voluntary social insurance and compulsory social insurance.

What are the voluntary social insurance regimes?

According to Clause 2, Article 4 of the Law on Social Insurance 2014, voluntary social insurance includes 2 regimes: 

1. Retirement;
2. Death benefit. 

According to the Social Insurance Law 2024, from July 1, 2025, voluntary social insurance participants will enjoy 3 regimes:

1. Retirement;
2. Death benefit;
3. Maternity leave;
4. Work accident insurance (*).

It can be seen that, compared to the compulsory social insurance regime, the voluntary social insurance regime will not enjoy the sick leave regime. However, participating in voluntary social insurance also brings many benefits to participants when they retire, such as receiving a monthly pension, being granted a free health insurance card and enjoying 95% of the cost of medical examination and treatment at public health facilities during the period of receiving the pension…

Note:
(*) According to Article 6 of the Law on Labor Safety and Hygiene 2015, employees will be entitled to voluntary occupational accident insurance if they pay additional premiums for this insurance. Accordingly, voluntary social insurance participants who want to receive benefits from occupational accident insurance will have to pay additional premiums for this insurance.

Reference: 

>> How many modes of voluntary insurance are there?;

>> 15 new points of the Social Insurance Law 2024;

>> 5 regimes and benefits when participating in compulsory social insurance;

>> Benefits of participating in voluntary occupational accident insurance.

6 benefits of participating in voluntary social insurance – Latest update

When participating in voluntary social insurance, employees will receive the following 6 benefits: 

1. Enjoy retirement benefits

1.1. Conditions for receiving pension

Employees are entitled to receive monthly pension when participating in voluntary social insurance if they meet the following two conditions:

• Retirement age as prescribed in Article 4 of Decree 135/2020/ND-CP, specifically in 2025, the retirement age of female and male workers under normal working conditions is prescribed as follows:
  • Male 61 years 3 months old;
  • Female 56 years 8 months old.
• Have at least 15 years of social insurance contributions (*).

Note:

(*) Applicable from July 1, 2025 according to the Social Insurance Law 2024. Previously, according to the Social Insurance Law 2014, employees must have paid social insurance for at least 20 years. However, if employees participating in voluntary social insurance meet the age requirement but have not paid for 15 years, they can continue to pay insurance until they have paid for 15 years to receive a monthly pension.

See details:

>> Conditions for retirement benefits;

>> Retirement age roadmap under normal working conditions.

1.2. Monthly pension level

The monthly pension of employees participating in voluntary social insurance is calculated as follows:

In there:

The monthly pension rate (%) is determined as follows:

➤ For male workers:

• Before July 1, 2025: 45% of the average monthly income for social insurance contributions corresponding to 20 years of social insurance contributions. After that, for each year of social insurance contributions, add 2%, the maximum benefit is 75%;
• From 01/07/2025:
  • 40% of the average monthly income for social insurance payment corresponds to 15 years of social insurance payment if the social insurance payment is from 15 years to less than 20 years. Then, for each year of social insurance payment, add 1%;
  • 45% of average monthly income for social insurance contribution if social insurance contribution is for 20 years or more. After that, add 2% each year, maximum benefit is 75%.

➤ For female workers: 45% of the average monthly income for social insurance contribution corresponding to 15 years of social insurance contribution. After that, for each year of social insurance contribution, an additional 2% is calculated, the maximum benefit is 75%.

Note:

The monthly pension rate (%) from 2014 – 2018 and from 2018 – 2025 for male and female workers will be different, specifically as follows:

• From 2014 to 2018, for each year of social insurance payment, male employees will receive an additional 2% and female employees will receive an additional 3%;
• From 2018 – before July 1, 2025, for each year of social insurance payment, male and female workers will receive an additional 2%;
• From July 1, 2025, for each year of social insurance payment:
  • Female workers plus 2%; 
  • Male workers get an additional 1% if they have paid social insurance for 15 years – under 20 years or an additional 2% if they have paid social insurance for 20 years or more. 

See also:

>> Monthly pension payment schedule;

>> Conditions and levels of compulsory social insurance pension benefits.

2. Enjoy death benefits 

2.1. Funeral allowance

➤ Conditions for receiving funeral benefits

If a voluntary social insurance participant passes away, his/her relatives (the person in charge of the funeral) will receive a funeral allowance if he/she falls into one of the following cases:

• The deceased employee had paid social insurance for 60 months or more;
• The deceased employee is receiving pension, pension is temporarily suspended.

➤ Funeral benefit level

The funeral allowance when participating in voluntary social insurance is 10 times the basic salary (*).

(*): From July 1, 2024, the basic salary is 2,340,000 VND/month.

See also: 

>> Conditions for receiving death benefits;

>> Regulations on basic salary – Continuously updated.

2.2. Death benefits

If a voluntary social insurance participant passes away, his or her relatives will not receive a monthly death benefit but will only receive a one-time death benefit.

➤ Conditions for receiving one-time death benefits

When a voluntary social insurance participant passes away, his/her relatives (the person in charge of the funeral) will receive a one-time death benefit if he/she falls into one of the following cases:

• The deceased employee was paying social insurance;
• The deceased employee is reserving the social insurance payment period;
• The deceased worker was receiving a pension.

➤ One-time death benefit level

Note:

(*) If the employee has both odd months of social insurance payment before 2014 and after 2014, then these odd months will be transferred to the period after 2014.

1) In case the employee has paid social insurance for less than 1 year:

• The one-time death benefit level is equal to the amount paid;
• The maximum death benefit is equal to 2 months of the average monthly income for social insurance contributions.

2) In case the employee has a period of compulsory social insurance and voluntary social insurance, the minimum one-time death benefit is equal to 3 months of the average monthly salary and income for social insurance payment.

>> Learn more: Regulations on mandatory social insurance death benefits.

3. Enjoy voluntary social insurance maternity benefits

As fdiinvietnam.com shared above, according to the provisions of Point a, Article 3 of the Law on Social Insurance 2024, from July 1, 2025, voluntary social insurance participants will enjoy additional maternity benefits. Specifically:

3.1. Conditions for receiving maternity benefits

According to Article 94 of Social Insurance 2024, female workers giving birth and male workers whose wives give birth will receive maternity benefits if:

• Have paid voluntary social insurance for at least 6 months in the 12 months before giving birth;
• Have a total time of participating in both voluntary and compulsory social insurance of 6 months or more within 12 months before giving birth.

3.2. Maternity benefit level

• The maternity allowance when participating in voluntary social insurance is 2 million VND for:
  • Each child is born;
  • Every fetus 22 weeks or older that dies in utero;
  • Fetal death during labor.
• Female workers who are ethnic minorities or Kinh but whose husbands are ethnic minorities and are poor households will enjoy other support policies according to Government regulations when giving birth.

>> See more: Conditions for enjoying maternity insurance benefits.

4. Receive one-time social insurance benefits

4.1. Conditions for receiving one-time voluntary social insurance benefits

Before July 1, 2025, voluntary social insurance participants, if requested, will receive a one-time social insurance payment, but must ensure that they fall into one of the following cases:

• Go abroad to settle;
• Employees who participate in voluntary social insurance after 1 year do not continue to pay social insurance but have not completed 20 years;
• Reaching retirement age but not having paid social insurance for 20 years and not continuing to participate in voluntary social insurance;
• People who are suffering from one of the life-threatening diseases such as: paralysis, cancer, leprosy, severe tuberculosis, HIV infection turning into AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver and other diseases as prescribed by the Ministry of Health.

From July 1, 2025, the Social Insurance Law 2024 stipulates cases eligible for one-time voluntary social insurance benefits, including:

• Go abroad to settle;
• People with severe disabilities;
• People with reduced working capacity of 81% or more;
• Employees who participated in social insurance before July 1, 2025, but after 12 months did not continue to pay and have not paid social insurance for 20 years;
• Reaching retirement age but not having paid social insurance for 15 years and not continuing to participate in voluntary social insurance (*);
• People who are suffering from one of the life-threatening diseases such as: paralysis, cancer, leprosy, severe tuberculosis, HIV infection turning into AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver and other diseases as prescribed by the Ministry of Health.

Note:

(*) According to Clause 1, Article 23 of the Social Insurance Law 2024, if the employee in this case does not withdraw social insurance at one time, he/she can receive monthly benefits.

>> Learn more: Can I withdraw social insurance at once after paying social insurance for 20 years?

4.2. One-time social insurance benefit level

The one-time social insurance benefit for employees participating in voluntary social insurance is calculated based on the number of years of social insurance contributions, each year is calculated as follows:

• Before 2014: 1.5 times the monthly MBQTL of social insurance payment;
• From 2014 onwards: 2 times MBQTL monthly social insurance payment (*).

Specifically:

Note:

(*) If the employee has both odd months of social insurance payment before 2014 and after 2014, then these odd months will be transferred to the period after 2014 to calculate the one-time social insurance benefit.

1) In case the employee has paid voluntary social insurance for less than 1 year, the social insurance benefit is equal to the amount paid, the maximum level is 2 times the average monthly income for social insurance payment.

2) The one-time social insurance benefit of voluntary social insurance participants does not include the amount of money the state has supported to pay voluntary social insurance (except in cases where the participant suffers from one of the life-threatening diseases as prescribed by the Ministry of Health).

———

For employees participating in voluntary social insurance who are receiving monthly pensions and settling abroad, the one-time social insurance benefit is calculated based on the period of social insurance payment. In which:

• Each year of social insurance payment before 2014 is calculated as 1.5 months of current pension;
• Each year of social insurance contribution from 2014 onwards is calculated as 2 months of current pension;
• After that, for each month of receiving pension, the one-time allowance will be deducted from 0.5 month of pension. The lowest level is equal to 3 months of current pension.

See also: 

>> Procedures for receiving one-time social insurance;

>> One-time social insurance payment calculation table 2025.

5. Enjoy health insurance benefits from voluntary social insurance

Voluntary social insurance participants will be granted a free health insurance card during their pension period with a coverage of 95% of medical examination and treatment costs at public medical facilities.

>> Learn more: Instructions on 3 ways to go to the doctor without a health insurance card.

6. Reserving social insurance payment time, suspending and continuing to receive pension

6.1. Conditions for retaining voluntary social insurance contributions

• Employees who stop paying voluntary social insurance but do not meet the conditions to receive pension according to current regulations;
• Employees have not received one-time social insurance or monthly benefits.

See also:

>> Conditions for retirement benefits;

>> Monthly pension;

>> Conditions for receiving one-time social insurance benefits.

6.2. Conditions for suspension and continued enjoyment of monthly pension and social insurance benefits

The following subjects will have their voluntary social insurance contributions temporarily suspended and will continue to receive monthly pensions and social insurance benefits, specifically:

• Social insurance participants whose monthly salary and social insurance benefits are stopped due to being declared missing by the Court, and then the Court cancels the decision declaring them missing;
• A person who is receiving a monthly pension or social insurance benefit is temporarily suspended due to the Court declaring him/her missing, then the Court declaring him/her dead (*).
• People who are receiving monthly pensions and social insurance benefits have had a period of interruption in receiving their pensions and benefits;
• A person receiving monthly pension or social insurance benefits dies during the interruption period without receiving pension or benefits (**);

Note:

The monthly pension and social insurance benefits received are the amounts for the months not yet received, excluding interest.

(*): In this case, relatives will not receive monthly pension or social insurance benefits;

(**): In this case, the relatives of the social insurance participant will receive the pension and social insurance benefits on behalf of the deceased.

Regulations on voluntary social insurance contribution levels

1. Method of paying voluntary social insurance

Before July 1, 2025, voluntary social insurance participants can choose one of the following 3 social insurance payment methods:

• Close periodically:
  • Monthly;
  • Every 3 months;
  • Every 6 months;
  • Every 12 months.
• Pay once for many years to come but not more than 5 years/time;
• Pay one time for the missing years but not more than 10 years to be eligible for retirement (for social insurance participants who are old enough to receive pension but still lack the social insurance payment time).

From July 1, 2025, the Social Insurance Law 2024 has amended the regulations on voluntary social insurance payment methods, specifically:

• Close periodically:
  • Monthly;
  • Every 3 months;
  • Every 6 months;
  • Every 12 months.
• Pay once for many years at a lower rate than the 22% rate;
• Pay a lump sum for the missing years to qualify for a pension at a higher rate than the 22% contribution rate.

In short: 

According to the new law, the periodic payment method remains the same, but the one-time payment method for social insurance for many years and one-time payment for missing years no longer has a limit on the payment period and has additional constraints on the payment level.

>> See more: Instructions for paying voluntary social insurance online – directly.

2. Voluntary social insurance contribution level in 2025

The formula for calculating voluntary social insurance contributions in 2025 is prescribed as follows:

In there:

(1) The income level for social insurance contribution will be chosen by the employee but must ensure:

• The monthly income used as the basis for voluntary social insurance payment must be at least equal to the poverty line in rural areas (the current poverty line in rural areas is 1,500,000 VND/person/month);
• The highest level is 20 times the basic salary: 36,000,000 VND (the basic salary from July 1, 2023 is: 1,800,000 VND/month).

(2) The level of state support for voluntary social insurance contributions is calculated as a percentage of the monthly social insurance contribution according to the poverty line of rural areas for a maximum period of 10 years.

In there:

• k: state support percentage (depending on whether the participant is a poor household, near-poor household or other subject, there will be a corresponding percentage);
• CN: rural poverty line at the time of payment.

From the above formula, you can calculate the amount of state support for voluntary social insurance contributions as shown in the table below:

So:

➤ The lowest contribution level that voluntary social insurance participants must pay:

➤ The highest contribution level that voluntary social insurance participants must pay:

 

Frequently asked questions about voluntary social insurance benefits

1. What are the benefits of participating in voluntary social insurance?

By participating in voluntary social insurance, you will receive the following 6 benefits:

• Enjoy retirement benefits;
• Enjoy death benefits;
• Enjoy maternity benefits;
• Receive one-time social insurance benefits;
• Enjoy health insurance;
• Retain social insurance payment time, suspend and continue to receive pension.

>> See details: 6 benefits when paying voluntary social insurance.

2. Will I be entitled to maternity benefits if I pay voluntary social insurance?

Yes. According to the provisions of the Law on Social Insurance 2024, from July 1, 2025, voluntary social insurance participants will be entitled to additional maternity benefits.

>> See details: Enjoy maternity benefits from voluntary social insurance.

3. What are the conditions for receiving one-time social insurance benefits from July 1, 2025?

• From July 1, 2025, the Social Insurance Law 2024 stipulates cases eligible for one-time voluntary social insurance benefits, including:
• Go abroad to settle;
• People with severe disabilities;
• People with reduced working capacity of 81% or more;
• Employees who participated in social insurance before July 1, 2025, but after 12 months did not continue to pay and have not paid social insurance for 20 years;
• Reaching retirement age but not having paid social insurance for 15 years and not continuing to participate in voluntary social insurance;
• People who are suffering from one of the life-threatening diseases such as: paralysis, cancer, leprosy, severe tuberculosis, HIV infection turning into AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver and other diseases as prescribed by the Ministry of Health.

>> See details: Conditions for receiving one-time social insurance benefits.

4. Where to buy voluntary social insurance?

If you need to buy voluntary social insurance, please contact the social insurance agency at your place of residence (temporary or permanent residence) or social insurance collection agents (People’s Committee of commune, ward, town, post office) for instructions on procedures, payment methods and choosing the social insurance contribution level that is suitable for your income.

You may need:

>> Instructions on how to pay voluntary social insurance;

>> Instructions on how to buy family health insurance.

5. What benefits does the voluntary social insurance death benefit include?

After the death of a voluntary social insurance participant, his/her relatives will receive a one-time funeral allowance and death benefit.

>> See details: Enjoy death benefits when participating in voluntary social insurance.

6. Methods of participating in voluntary social insurance?

Voluntary social insurance participants can choose one of the following social insurance payment methods:

• Periodic payment: monthly, 3 months/time, 6 months/time or 12 months/time;
• Pay once for many years to come;
• Pay one time for the missing years (for social insurance participants who are eligible for pension but have missed the social insurance payment period).

>> See details: Voluntary social insurance payment method.