Thailand Approves Welfare Cards for Just 9.5 Million People
Thailand approved welfare cards for 9.51 million of 18.82 million applicants after stricter screening to ensure benefits reach the genuinely poor, with rejected applicants able to appeal their decisions.
On July 17, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas disclosed during an official delegation visit to Shanghai that the 2025 state welfare card qualification review has significantly reduced the number of eligible recipients after strict screening. Out of 18.82 million registrants, only 9.51 million passed the qualification criteria, while 9.31 million were rejected.
Ekniti explained that the high rejection rate reflects the government's overhaul of the vetting system to be more rigorous and thorough. Applicant data was cross-checked against multiple state databases including tax records, land ownership, income levels, and vehicle ownership to filter out those not genuinely in poverty. "The intention behind this strict screening is to bring truly poor people into the system," Ekniti stated. "Our welfare budget is limited, so we want this card to go to people with nothing—like elderly patients with no income—to reach those who truly deserve and need help the most."
Ekniti confirmed that citizens can check their eligibility in the system and will see clear explanations of why they were rejected if unsuccessful. Those denied can appeal their decision, ensuring transparency and fairness in the process.
