Thailand Expands Welfare Card Numbers Beyond 14 Million
Thailand is rescreening nearly 19 million welfare applicants for the first time in over five years to verify eligibility and remove ineligible beneficiaries, with officials open to expanding the program beyond the projected 14 million cardh
Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprasert announced progress on reviewing the state welfare card program at a July 3 meeting of the grassroots economic and social welfare committee. Officials will re-screen approximately 19 million applicants' data—a complete overhaul due to no updates in over five years—to verify accuracy and remove deceased beneficiaries or those with increased income. The 19 million applicants come from three sources: 2 million existing cardholders to be rescreened, 5 million identified as genuinely poor and vulnerable through Interior Ministry surveys, and 1 million from Social Development and Human Security Ministry databases plus basic necessity data collection. When asked if new beneficiary numbers might exceed the projected 14 million, Ekniti stressed the government has no fixed ceiling—even exceeding 14 million is acceptable. The priority is reaching truly struggling people with no support, particularly elderly citizens without children, with welfare cards complementing existing social assistance programs. "I've visited affected areas and seen real hardship," Ekniti said. "The government must address elderly people with no family support and no resources. The welfare card serves as supplementary assistance alongside other social benefits they already receive."
