Elderly Thais Denied Welfare Card Over Strict Eligibility Rules
Most elderly residents in Nakhon Ratchasima were approved for state welfare cards, but some were rejected due to strict eligibility criteria that critics say excludes genuinely poor seniors who own land.
In Nakhon Ratchasima on July 17, large crowds of residents, particularly elderly people, gathered outside a Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives branch in Phimai District to hear the announcement of new state welfare card recipients. Most came in person hoping to hear directly from officials to confirm their eligibility.
While the majority of those waiting learned they had been approved and expressed gratitude to the government, some residents were disappointed. Thuan Khemnark, 72, from Phimai District, said he was relieved to qualify after initially fearing rejection. He plans to use the welfare card benefits to pay for utilities and household expenses.
However, not everyone succeeded. Manop Chaemjang, 66, who previously held the card but was denied this round, criticized the strict criteria. He argued that elderly residents should automatically qualify, noting that some applicants own land but remain genuinely poor and should not be excluded. He contended that the rigorous qualification standards prevent poor people from accessing the support they need.
