Are individuals over 70 years old who have cancer eligible for social assistance?

Social assistance regime for the elderly is currently stipulated in the 2009 Law on the Elderly and Decree 136/2013/ND-CP.

To be specific, according to the provisions of Articles 17 and 18 of the 2009 Law on the Elderly, the elderly are entitled to social assistance if they fall into one of the following cases:

- The elderly belonging to a poor household without anyone obligated and entitled to provide support, or with someone obligated and entitled to provide support, but that person is receiving monthly social assistance policies.

- Persons aged 80 years or older who do not belong to poor households and do not have pensions, monthly social insurance allowances, or monthly social assistance.

Additionally, Clause 5, Article 5 of Decree 136/2013/ND-CP stipulates the cases in which the elderly are entitled to monthly social assistance, including:

- The elderly belonging to a poor household without anyone obligated and entitled to provide support, or with someone obligated and entitled to provide support, but that person is receiving monthly social assistance policies;

- Persons aged 80 years or older who do not belong to poor households and do not have pensions, monthly social insurance allowances, or monthly social assistance;

- The elderly belonging to poor households without anyone obligated and entitled to provide support, unable to live in the community, meeting the conditions for admission to social protection facilities, social houses but have someone willing to take care of them in the community.

Combining the above two regulations and comparing them with your case, a person over 70 years old, although having cancer, without a pension, and not receiving any allowance, does not fall under the subjects entitled to social assistance according to both the 2009 Law on the Elderly and Decree 136/2013/ND-CP.

Sincerely!