Bangkok: The Ministry of Finance is deliberating on changes to the conditions for the state welfare card following a surge in applications for eligibility reviews. More than 2.9 million people have requested a reassessment of their qualifications for the welfare program.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Vinit Visetsuwannapoom, Director of the Fiscal Policy Office and spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, emphasized the need to consider hardship and poverty while establishing the criteria for the welfare card. He highlighted the challenges faced by the Ministry of Transport, which struggles to track vehicles "transferred without registration" due to outdated registration records. This limitation necessitates a revised screening process for vehicle ownership. The Ministry of Finance aims to manage the database effectively and encourage citizens to maintain accurate vehicle ownership records to safeguard their welfare rights.
In terms of education, the Ministry is open to revising and adding conditions based on public feedback. Of the 2.9 million review requests, over 40% pertain to automobile-related criteria. The Ministry plans to present these matters to the Welfare Card Committee and subsequently to the Cabinet for approval, aiming for implementation by October 1st.
The registration process was conducted through a targeted survey rather than a comprehensive one, leaving around 2,300,000 individuals unregistered or previously ineligible. Of these, 814,000 have been verified. The Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration and the Deputy Minister of Interior are committed to speeding up the assistance process.
Mr. Vinit noted this initiative as a chance for Thailand to gather detailed information on those in need, particularly the most affected, who will benefit from the welfare cards. The Ministry of Finance intends to collaborate with other agencies to provide swift and appropriate support.
Regarding the 60:40 allocation, adjustments are proposed for those who were eligible but either not approved or did not register. Initially, 3.18 million people were eligible, with 12.7 million registrations. Some have passed away or chosen not to register due to improved economic conditions. The Ministry plans to reinstate the 60:40 allocation for about 6 million individuals for two more months, redirecting the previous welfare card budget to this system. The Cabinet will review this proposal imminently, with implementation anticipated soon.
Complaints have arisen about income information discrepancies, where individuals claim no knowledge of reported earnings. The Ministry acknowledges issues of fraud and misuse of names for tax evasion and reassures the public of expedited benefit restoration by October 1st.
The "Thai Help Thai Plus" 60:40 scheme proposal will be discussed with the Cabinet, with a focus on reviewing eligibility criteria. The Ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Interior to refine approaches and communicate transparently with the public. Adjustments for older, unused vehicles, and potential budget expansions are on the agenda to meet demand and address exclusions.
The Department of Learning Promotion has received 45,000 review requests, but adjustments may be made to expedite benefits for eligible individuals currently undergoing the review process.