PM Orders Review of Welfare Card Criteria for Cabinet Next Week
Prime Minister Anuthin has ordered a review of welfare card eligibility criteria, with plans to expand appeal services to transport and district offices while exempting older vehicles from disqualifying factors.
On July 21, Transport Deputy Minister Siripong Angsakulkiattikul announced that Prime Minister Anuthin Charnvirakul has instructed relevant agencies to streamline the welfare card appeals process. The government will expand appeal service locations beyond existing channels at Krung Thai Bank and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) to include transport offices and district offices, with mobile district units eventually serving village halls for maximum convenience.
The Transport Ministry has ordered the Department of Land Transport to revise vehicle ownership criteria, exempting old vehicles and waiving inspection fees. Cars over 20 years old and motorcycles over 15 years old will not count as disqualifying factors, while residents may own up to two motorcycles even if under installment plans. The government will establish verification processes to address cases of unused vehicles still listed in the system and illegitimate vehicle transfers.
The Finance Ministry requested a delay to fully review the PM's directives before the cabinet meeting next week. The government urged the public not to believe rumors about August 1 or October 1 deadlines and to await official cabinet resolutions. Officials emphasized the re-registration is necessary as data has not been updated in 3-4 years, with over 2 million additional people now qualifying for benefits while some wealthy individuals need to be removed for fairness.
