Treasury Alerts 1 Million Welfare Recipients to Verify Eligibility.

Bangkok: The Treasury Department has issued an alert to 1 million welfare recipients, urging them to verify their eligibility and confirm their identities through Krungthai Bank. This directive is part of a broader initiative to ensure that welfare benefits are distributed to eligible individuals. According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Minister of Finance Mr. Chulaphan Amornvivat revealed during a meeting of the Pracharat Welfare Committee for Grassroots Economy and Society that 1 million out of the 14.5 million registered welfare cardholders have not yet completed their identity verification via E-KYC. To address this, these individuals are advised to check their registration status on the government websites, https://GovernmentWelfareCard.mof.go.th or https://welfare.mof.go.th, and complete the identity verification process with Krungthai Bank. The meeting also tasked the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) with reviewing the qualifications of welfare recipients to ensure alignment with current circumstances. This review will consider factors such as land ownership, bonds, deposits, and existing monthly welfare payments ranging from 200 to 300 baht. Benefits include usage at Sky Pracharat shops or participating community shops, travel expenses covering the entire transportation system up to 750 baht, and cooking gas subsidies. The necessity of this review stems from the observation that many beneficiaries do not fully utilize their allocated rights, prompting a new study to enhance the effectiveness of welfare distribution. The current government budget for welfare stands at 60 billion baht annually, catering to 14.5 million people. The initiative to refine qualification criteria and spending habits aims to eliminate individuals who are financially stable from the welfare system, ensuring that aid reaches those truly in need. The NESDB is expected to conclude its study within a month and commence new registrations. The Ministry of Finance is tasked with completing this process by March 31, 2024, in line with the Cabinet resolution mandating registration every two years.