May 25 Confirmed! Ekniti Affirms Registration Opens for Kha-La-Khrung and State Welfare Card Programs
Registration opens May 25 for the merged Kha-La-Khrung and State Welfare Card programs, with benefits starting June 1 and lasting four months under the unified "Thai Help Thai Plus" initiative. Recipients will receive up to 4,000 baht total
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapasch announced that registration for the Kha-La-Khrung (One for One) and State Welfare Card programs will open simultaneously on May 25, with benefits taking effect on June 1 for a four-month period. Details regarding the total number of eligible beneficiaries are still being finalized, as the initiative consolidates two programs: the Kha-La-Khrung program which originally distributed 20 million allocations, and the State Welfare Card program serving 13.2 million people. Both will operate under the unified "Thai Help Thai Plus" banner, with new State Welfare Card registrations also opening.
The Kha-La-Khrung Plus program is projected to provide over 20 million allocations through a one-week registration period, distributing 1,000 baht monthly for four months, totaling 4,000 baht. The government will cover 60 percent while eligible recipients contribute 40 percent.
For the State Welfare Card (poorest households card), the first two months will prioritize the existing 13.2 million beneficiaries, with monthly spending allowance increased from 300 baht to 1,000 baht. After processing new registrations, those whose income exceeds the 100,000 baht annual threshold may instead access the Kha-La-Khrung program, while those previously excluded due to insufficient income will gain State Welfare Card eligibility in the remaining two months.
"We structured Thai Help Thai Plus as two-month plus two-month segments because we're reopening State Welfare Card registrations," Ekniti explained. "The original 13.2 million beneficiaries registered years ago. If new applicants exceed the income threshold, they'll use Kha-La-Khrung benefits instead. Those who fell short of income requirements will gain eligibility now, ensuring no one misses opportunity."
Ekniti stated that consolidating both programs into Thai Help Thai Plus enhances efficiency by integrating merchant networks from both the Kha-La-Khrung Plus program and the 1.45 million blue-flag merchants, allowing all beneficiaries from both programs to shop at all participating stores.
