Thailand to Redirect 6 Million Ineligible Welfare Card Recipients
Thailand is redirecting welfare benefits to 6 million ineligible recipients by establishing appeal centers and reconsidering vehicle ownership criteria that wrongly excluded nearly 1.2 million applicants. The government aims to finalize new
The Interior, Transport, and Finance ministries have laid out a plan to address appeals from welfare card applicants deemed ineligible in 2024. Deputy Interior Minister Pol. Peerapat Suwannachui said on July 20 that the ministry, working with the Social Development ministry, has been surveying communities to verify income eligibility. For those rejected and seeking to appeal, the Interior Ministry will establish district-level appeal centers and deploy village headmen to reach remote and isolated residents without technology access.
Finance Ministry official Wanich Wisetsuwannaphum, acting as the Finance Ministry spokesperson, said the eligibility criteria were designed to identify the most vulnerable in society. He acknowledged that vehicle ownership criteria complaints warrant serious consideration and that the Transport Ministry faces limitations in tracking unofficial vehicle transfers since registered owners may not formally deregister vehicles. As evidence emerges of such transfers, the Finance Ministry will accept complaints and adjust guidelines accordingly, including establishing better database management.
Of the 2.9 million people seeking review, roughly 40% cited vehicle ownership as grounds for rejection. The Finance Ministry has referred these cases to the Participatory State Welfare Committee for Grassroots Economy for review. Once guidelines are finalized, the ministry will rush a Cabinet proposal to add more conditions reflecting actual circumstances, aiming to grant benefits by October 1. Spokesperson Wanich noted this registration drive was proactive; 2.3 million people never previously received welfare and were not previously registered. The Interior Ministry identified over 800,000 requiring assistance with identity verification. The registration effort has given Thailand comprehensive data on the most vulnerable populations across multiple hardship levels, enabling tailored support measures.
