Phichit residents flock to banks to verify identity for Thai Help Thai Plus benefits, mostly elderly facing technical barriers
Elderly residents in Phichit crowded banks on the first day of Thai Help Thai Plus identity verification, struggling with app technical glitches and incompatible smartphones while seeking assistance to ease household expenses.
On May 25, 2567 in Phichit province, the first day of identity verification for the Thai Help Thai Plus program was bustling with activity. Starting from 6 a.m., large crowds of residents who already had the Pao Tang app arrived to verify their registration for the Thai Help Thai Plus (60/40) program, which is open for registration from May 25-29 with 30 million available benefits.
Residents hope to participate in the program to ease household expenses. However, some residents experiencing app access issues, version problems, and failed verification attempts were mostly elderly individuals with unreliable internet connections, forcing them to rely on family members to help them access the app and claim their benefits.
Sujai Bunyavat, a resident of Tambon Muang Kao in Muang Phichit District, shared that she asked her grandson to verify her benefits on the system because she feared making a mistake during the verification process for Thai Help Thai Plus.
At Krung Thai Bank, large numbers of residents traveled to Krung Thai Bank Phichit branch to verify their benefits with bank staff. The bank processed app access for customers and linked their Krung Thai accounts for identity verification. The crowds became so overwhelming that staff had to direct residents to wait in queues outside the building to reduce congestion and help them understand the process. Services were organized separately between those verifying benefits and those conducting regular banking transactions.
One resident reported waiting in line from 7 a.m. to complete the Pao Tang app verification and facial scanning with bank staff, worried about missing out due to the long queue.
Bankstaff set up additional service points with interns and staff to guide residents. However, the main problems encountered during this registration were equipment and technical system limitations, particularly for elderly people using older smartphones whose operating systems don't support the application. This raised concerns among residents: "If my phone doesn't support it, do I have to buy a new device to get the benefits?" This represents an added financial burden in the current economic situation.
Other technical issues also caused confusion, such as failed identity verification, particularly with facial scan failures, and requirements that SIM card information and registered name match the national ID number. Staff had to constantly promote ways residents could verify using their ID number and telephone signals with internet connectivity.
Some residents experienced slow internet signals that hindered registration, and the system's uncertainty combined with complex requirements left many residents anxious and worried about missing out on this assistance opportunity.
News: Thai Help Thai Plus
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