Thailand Adjusts Welfare Card Eligibility Criteria

The government is preparing to revise eligibility criteria for the state welfare card, particularly for vehicle owners and students in various educational categories, with plans to present these changes to the Cabinet along with an extension of the rights review period until September 20. On July 20, 2025, Transport Minister Siripong Angsakulkiattikul, Interior Minister Phalpeer Suwannachuay, Public Administration Department Director Narucha Kosasivilaize, and Financial Economics Office Director Winit Visetsuvarnapumi held a joint press conference to discuss adjustments to the welfare card appeal process. The new criteria for vehicle owners and students—including non-formal education students—will first be presented to the State Enterprise Policy Committee before being submitted to the Cabinet for approval. The Interior Ministry will establish service points at district offices to help those who fail the revised criteria assessment, with village headmen serving as coordinators to gather additional information, requiring an extension of the review deadline to September 20. Additionally, approximately 6 million people who were ineligible for benefits will now be permitted to register for the Thai Help Thai Plus program, a proposal that will be submitted to the Cabinet on July 21. Finance Ministry spokespersons acknowledged the need to reconsider the eligibility conditions for the state welfare card, noting that genuinely poor citizens were being denied benefits despite owning damaged or non-functional vehicles, and that non-formal education students should be distinguished from formal education students.