Accordingly, following the directions of the Government and the Prime Minister in the Decision No. 241/QD-TTg dated February 23, 2018 on approving the scheme for intensifying payment for public services via banks; Decision No. 149/QD-TTg dated January 22, 2020 on introducing national financial inclusion strategy by 2025 with orientations towards 2030 and Directive No. 22/CT-TTg dated May 26, 2020 on promoting the implementation of solutions to cashless payment development in Vietnam, in recent years, the social insurance industry has paid special attention to promoting the payment of pensions, social and unemployment insurance benefits through personal accounts at banks (ATM cards) to serve the participants better and better. That has made a significant contribution to increasing the number of people enjoying the regimes with modern and convenient payment methods, suitable to the development of society.

In parallel with cash payments, up to now, all 63 provinces and cities across the country have been paying pensions, social and unemployment insurance benefits via their ATM cards with hundreds of thousands of monthly beneficiaries. By this method, monthly, pensioners and beneficiaries of social and unemployment insurance do not need to go to any agency to receive money and sign the payment list. Especially, due to the complicated development of the recent COVID-19 epidemic, payment via ATM cards has helped beneficiaries minimize travelling and contact, ensuring safety and social distancing in accordance with the direction of the Prime Minister.

For employees who are entitled to sickness, maternity benefits, convalescence, health rehabilitation, one-off social insurance or unemployment benefits, non-cash payment method also contributes to preventing the employer from misappropriation or delaying the payment of benefits for the employees, etc. Therefore, it is ensured that the participants are entitled to the regimes fully, quickly, accurately and safely. Regarding the payment agency, the implementation of this method ensures the goal of cash safety during transportation and storage, avoids errors and reduces pressure and time in organization and the intermediary steps through employers.

Currently, the payment process via ATM accounts is uniformly implemented in all localities as prescribed:

- People on monthly pension or social insurance allowance will have their money transferred by the post office to their personal accounts within the same day or no later than the next working day after receiving the payment list from social security agency.

- The social security agency in cooperation with the bank where the beneficiary opens the account will help the employees and their relatives enjoying sickness, maternity or convalescence regimes open accounts to collate information and account numbers to immediately conduct payment for the beneficiaries.

- In case an employee receives unemployment allowances, in the first month, his/her money shall be transferred by the social security agency right after receiving the payment list; from the second month of receiving benefits, the money will be transferred within 05 days from the start date according to the payment list.

Recently, the social insurance industry has made efforts to implement numerous solutions to develop beneficiaries through personal accounts at banks to better serve participants of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance. Following the directions of the Government and the Prime Minister on promoting payment via banks, VSS has formulated Plan No. 1764/KH-BHXH dated May 23, 2019 on promoting the payment of social security services through non-cash payment methods; Official Letter No. 2965/BHXH-TCKT dated August 15, 2019 on assigning targets to pay via non-cash payment methods; Plan No. 1823/KH-BHXH on promoting non-cash payment of pensions, social and unemployment insurance benefits via banking system from 2020 to 2025, in which sets out the main tasks and solutions determined to be completed in the next phase.

In addition to assigning targets for social security authorities of provinces, VSS has actively promoted the propagation and dissemination of the Government's and Prime Minister's instructions on payment of social security premiums via the banking system on the mass media, focusing on the effectiveness and benefits of this payment method. VSS also requested the Vietnam Post Corporation to direct the Post Offices at all levels to coordinate with the social security agency and issue documents to guide, propagate and mobilize beneficiaries to better understand the utility of transactions via ATM cards, from which shall actively register for participation.

In particular, in order to encourage beneficiaries to receive pensions, social insurance and unemployment insurance benefits through their ATM card accounts, the beneficiaries will be covered for the cost of opening a first-time personal account and the cost of transferring money to the personal accounts of beneficiaries (if any). VSS has proposed to the State Bank to direct the banking system with preferential mechanisms for pensioners, social insurance and unemployment insurance beneficiaries to receive money through personal accounts (in which reduces fee for card opening and payment bills, cash withdrawals, transactions are reduced or free); strengthen installation and expansion of ATM system, especially in remote areas so that employees and beneficiaries can easily access and use banking services anytime and anywhere in an easy and effective way; provide enough money and regular maintenance of the ATM system.

With the efforts of the social security industry, the number of people receiving social insurance and unemployment insurance benefits through their personal accounts at the bank has increased significantly: In 2019, the number of beneficiaries in urban areas in our country reached 33.8%, an increase of 9.76% compared to 2018, reaching 67.6% compared to the target set until 2021 (according to Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP setting the goal of reach 50% of the number of people receiving pensions and social insurance benefits through ATM accounts in urban areas); the amount of money spent through personal accounts is estimated at 34%, exceeding the target assigned by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 241/QD-TTg (reaching 20% by 2020).