Circular Joint No. 520-TT/LB guiding the implementation of Decree No. 500-NĐ/LB of the Ministry of National Defense - Ministry of Finance - Social Relief regarding the issue of long-term allowances for voluntary military personnel who are sick and unable to work upon retirement.

 CIRCULAR
Guidelines for implementing Decree No. 500-NĐ/LB of the Joint Ministries of National Defense – Finance - Social Welfare on the issue of compensation for voluntary military personnel who are ill and need to be retired and are no longer capable of working
Implementing the resolution of the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers dated October 29, 1958, and Decree No. 500-NĐ/LB of the Joint Ministries of National Defense – Finance - Social Welfare on the issue of compensation for ill military personnel retiring, the Joint Ministries explain some specific points and provide guidance on implementation as follows:
for those who have been discharged and are no longer capable of working

1 – The provision of long-term compensation for voluntary military personnel who are ill and need to retire and are no longer capable of working aims to assist and create living conditions for comrades when they leave the military. This provision originates from the actual situation of the military and the financial capacity of the State.

2 – Voluntary military personnel who are ill and need to retire and are no longer capable of working, as stipulated in Article 1 of the Decree, are those who joined the military before the establishment of peace (July 20, 1954), including soldiers and current officers, who due to extremely poor health, illness leading to disability, or old age have lost most of their ability to work, and cannot work or engage in productive labor to support themselves (excluding war invalids).

3 – The category receiving a monthly compensation of 12,000 dong applies uniformly to voluntary military personnel who are ill and unable to work and are currently receiving provisions under the supply system.

- The second category, in addition to the health conditions specified in Article 1 of the Decree, must also meet the following conditions:

a) Must be an officer receiving salary according to the wage system.

b) Have served in the military for at least five years.

The monthly compensation for an officer receiving salary according to the wage system, starting from five years of service, is based on 30% of the basic monthly salary of that officer. From the sixth year onwards, for each additional year of service, the compensation increases by 1%.

Thus, although officers may be at the same rank, those with more tenure will receive a higher percentage of compensation; officers with the same tenure but at a higher rank will receive more compensation.

Military personnel who meet the criteria for long-term compensation upon retirement will not receive production allowances and short-term health allowances. However, if their health recovers and it is determined that they can withdraw from long-term health allowances, they will again receive production allowances like other retired military personnel. While receiving health allowances, military personnel will still enjoy all spiritual and material benefits as other retired military personnel as previously defined.

Specifically, heroic military personnel currently receiving provisions will uniformly receive compensation equivalent to that of a Platoon Leader or Second Lieutenant.

For military personnel in the above category, if they were civilian officials, civil servants, or party members detached to work in agencies at the district level or higher before joining the military, each year of work outside the military will be counted as one year of service in the military and will be included in the calculation of compensation rates.

For military personnel falling under the above category, if before enlisting they were cadres of the Civil, Administrative, and Party sectors who had left to work at agencies at or above the district level, each year of work outside the military shall be considered as one year of service in the military and shall be counted towards the proportion of benefits.

4 – The composition of the health examination council at the Division level or higher, which has the authority to review and approve military personnel to receive health allowances as stipulated in Article II of the Decree, includes: one representative of the unit commander, one Doctor or Medical Officer, and one representative of the Unit Party Committee.

At the Division level or equivalent, the review is conducted for military personnel receiving provisions.

At the Corps level or Military Region level, the review is conducted for military personnel from Platoon Leaders to Company Commanders or from Second Lieutenants to Majors, and recommendations are made to the Ministry of National Defense for approval of officers from Deputy Battalion Commanders or Majors and above.

Each time reviewing, all levels must carefully consider, grasp the policy and standards.

5 – After two years from the date of retirement, military personnel receiving long-term compensation will be re-examined for health by the Health Examination Board of the province, city, or region; if certified as having recovered and able to work independently, the compensation will cease and they will receive production allowances as other retired military personnel. Conversely, if they are still unable to work independently, they will continue to receive compensation for another two years, and thereafter, their health will be reviewed every two years as previously defined.

6 – Military personnel receiving long-term compensation who currently have no family or support network will be admitted to rehabilitation centers of the Ministry of Social Welfare. Monthly allowances will be covered by the rehabilitation center based on health status, rank, and current standards.

In cases where the long-term allowance of a military personnel is lower than the living standard at the center, the personnel will receive the supplementary allowance standard at the center. Conversely, if the allowance is higher than the living standard at the center, the personnel will only pay the living standard amount and receive the remaining balance (as stipulated in Article 4 of the Decree).

7 – Regulations on the issuance and receipt of long-term compensation:

a) To facilitate initial operations, the long-term health allowance fund for 1958 will be covered by the budget of the Ministry of National Defense, starting from 1959, this fund will be transferred to the Ministry of Social Welfare. Annually, the Ministry of Social Welfare will prepare a budget and oversee the distribution.

b) Military personnel receiving long-term compensation, in addition to necessary documents required for regular military personnel, will also have a "long-term allowance receipt book" (specific contents will be defined later).

c) Long-term compensation is issued quarterly and distributed at the beginning of each quarter by the Social Welfare Department of the province. When collecting money, military personnel must bring necessary documents such as the decision or discharge record of retired military personnel, and the long-term allowance receipt book.

In cases where military personnel are too ill to collect the money themselves, they may authorize parents, spouse, children, or siblings to collect on their behalf, with certification from the Village Administrative Committee.

During implementation, military units and related agencies should directly contact the Joint Ministries (mainly the Ministry of National Defense) for any further details needed.