Bangkok: 76% of welfare card applicants have successfully verified their identities, with the process deadline set for August 31. The government is urging the remaining applicants to complete this crucial step to ensure they receive their benefits.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, the spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, provided an update on the identity verification status and eligibility reviews for the State Welfare Card project. As of August 15, 2026, data from the Department of Provincial Administration indicates that 2.3 million new cardholders, accounting for 76% of applicants, have verified their identities. This figure marks an increase from August 2, 2026, when 2.1 million, or 69%, had completed the process. Consequently, the number of individuals yet to verify their identities has fallen from approximately 980,000 to about 800,000. These individuals must complete the verification to start receiving benefits from October 1, 2026.
Additionally, the eligibility review process has seen 4.4 million people who initially failed the assessment file for reconsideration, up from 4.1 million on August 2, 2026. This has decreased the number of those who have not filed for reconsideration from around 5.2 million to approximately 4.9 million. The deadline for completing these processes is also August 31, 2026.
The spokesperson highlighted that these numbers demonstrate the effectiveness of government agencies' public relations efforts and facilitation, which have led to increased public participation. In the last two weeks, around 200,000 people have verified their identities, and approximately 300,000 have appealed for eligibility reconsideration. Despite this progress, a significant number of applicants still need to complete the process, and all relevant agencies are actively providing support to ensure compliance with the deadline.