In which, cashless payment through bank accounts is being promoted because of its convenience and speed, especially after the 15% pension increase was applied.

Binh Phuoc currently has more than 17,000 people receiving monthly pensions and social insurance benefits. Starting from July 1, 2024, the provincial Social Insurance will coordinate with the provincial Post Office to transfer monthly pensions and social insurance benefits to beneficiaries via personal accounts.

Flexible deployment

As usual, every month, Bu Dang District Post Office staff will visit the homes of the elderly and those who are unable to travel to pay pensions and social insurance benefits. However, starting from this July, implementing the policy of Vietnam Social Security on promoting non-cash payments for social security beneficiaries in the province, the Provincial Post Office has signed an agreement with Saigon - Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) Binh Phuoc branch to support the opening of bank accounts and the monthly allowance will be transferred to ATM cards.

Pensioners and social insurance beneficiaries in Bu Dang district are supported to open bank accounts to apply for payment through accounts from this July.

According to the authorities, the method of paying pensions and social insurance benefits through bank accounts is necessary and in line with the trend. However, for the elderly, especially pensioners in rural, remote and isolated areas where banking facilities are limited, there are still many obstacles.

Ms. Mai Thi Cuc in Duc Phong town, Bu Dang district said: For the elderly, using an ATM card is very difficult. I am old and have difficulty moving around, so I have to ask my children and grandchildren for help when needed.

SHB Bank and Bu Dang District Post Office staff came to homes to promote and support opening bank accounts for pensioners and social insurance beneficiaries.

To increase the payment rate via ATM cards, the Provincial Post Office has signed a cooperation agreement with SHB Bank to open accounts for beneficiaries.

Not only in Bu Dang district but also in many other localities in the province, pensioners and monthly allowance recipients are mostly elderly people, have difficulty traveling, have the habit of using cash, and are afraid of obstacles when withdrawing money, so some people still want to receive cash at payment points.

Therefore, postal staff have been proactive in propagating, going to the homes of pension and social insurance beneficiaries to explain and persuade them to have a correct understanding of the effectiveness and benefits of using non-cash payment services to create convenience and safety for themselves; at the same time, helping the social insurance agency improve the quality and efficiency in paying benefits and policies.

I am very satisfied with receiving pension through my account because it is convenient. When it is time to receive my salary, I do not have to go to the payment points to receive it directly, the money is available in my account so I can pay bills for electricity, water, telephone, etc. without having to go to the transaction points to pay like before. Mr. TRAN VAN CHIEN, Duc Phong town, Bu Dang district

Ms. Duong Thi Ngoc Yen, Director of Bu Dang District Post Office, said: Instead of receiving pensions and social insurance benefits directly at payment points, many people have registered to receive payments through personal accounts. This is a safe method, saving time and costs. With this method, every month, pensioners and social insurance beneficiaries do not have to go to a centralized location to receive money and sign a payment list. For the rest, we are flexible in payment methods, still opening accounts but creating conditions for beneficiaries to feel most convenient.

Need to resolve the problem soon

In urban areas, with widespread ATM coverage, many people appreciate transferring money via bank cards because it is quick, saves time and travel costs for the beneficiary.

Ms. Le Thi Ty in Tan Thien Ward, Dong Xoai City shared: “At first, it was difficult to change the habit of not using cash for the elderly. But when the post office staff promoted the convenience of paying pensions through accounts, I found it useful. Pensioners and social insurance beneficiaries will be guaranteed the safety of their money and can proactively withdraw money without having to wait, queue and go through the procedures to receive cash.”

Post office staff guide people to open ATM cards to receive monthly pensions.

To increase the payment rate via ATM cards, the Provincial Post Office has signed a cooperation agreement with SHB Bank, Binh Phuoc branch, to open accounts for beneficiaries.

“In addition to assigning staff to support at home, the bank also has many other preferential policies. Thereby, contributing to the province's goal of covering ATM cards for those receiving monthly pensions and social insurance benefits through their accounts,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, Deputy Director of SHB Bank, Binh Phuoc branch.

Currently, the provincial Social Insurance Department pays monthly pensions and social insurance benefits in two forms: through bank accounts and in cash at payment points. Implementing the Government's policy on promoting non-cash payments, the Binh Phuoc Social Insurance Department has coordinated with relevant units to promote and disseminate to people the benefits of receiving benefits through accounts.

In Dong Xoai City, the number of people receiving monthly pensions and social insurance benefits through personal accounts has reached more than 60%. The implementation of pension payments through accounts still has certain obstacles and difficulties. We will find ways to resolve them to strive to reach 100% by next September. Director of Dong Xoai City Post Office LE THI THU HANG

Currently, the Provincial Post Office is paying monthly pensions and social insurance benefits to more than 17,000 people, of which 6,767 people receive cash with a total expenditure of 33.5 billion VND; 10,308 people receive via ATM, with 61.6 billion VND. With a widespread commercial banking system, non-cash payment methods providing many utilities, integrating customer support features, pension and allowance payments via bank accounts quickly receive a response due to their convenience. Thereby, it both contributes to promoting digital transformation and supports social insurance agencies and units in making timely payments, bringing practical benefits to people, ensuring timely social security policies and regimes.

According to Ngan Ha (Binh Phuoc Newspaper)