Shanghai: Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, addressed concerns regarding the decreased number of recipients for the state welfare card during an official visit to Shanghai, China. He explained that out of 18.8 million applicants, only 9.5 million individuals were selected to receive the welfare card, based on stringent criteria aimed at identifying genuine poverty.
According to Thai News Agency, the Ministry of Finance's announcement highlighted the significant drop in eligible recipients for the 2026 state welfare benefits. This decrease is attributed to a rigorous screening process that effectively halved the number of qualified applicants from the initial 18.82 million registrations. The verification process, which disqualified 9.31 million applicants, involved cross-referencing registration data with government databases. This ensured that only those who met specific criteria, such as income level, tax records, land and vehicle ownership, were considered genuinely impoverished.
Ekniti emphasized the government's commitment to supporting those most in need, stating, "The intention behind this policy, which involves rigorous screening, is to bring truly poor people into the system. I'm speaking from the heart; the government wants to help those who are truly struggling." He acknowledged the limitations of the government welfare budget and stressed the importance of directing resources to individuals who are most in need, such as elderly people without income.
He also assured citizens that the eligibility system is transparent, providing clear explanations for disqualification. Additionally, those who believe they have been wrongly denied can appeal the decision, ensuring accountability in the distribution of welfare benefits.