Bangkok: The government is urgently working to verify the identities of 830,000 people to receive state welfare benefits, while another 5 million people have yet to file for reconsideration of their eligibility. According to Thai News Agency, the government is striving to ensure that impoverished citizens have comprehensive access to state welfare benefits. Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, stated that the government has combined efforts of all relevant agencies to expedite processes such as identity verification (e-KYC) and submission of requests for rights review. Additionally, proactive outreach in the field aims to ensure that eligible citizens do not miss out on their benefits due to a lack of awareness or process inconvenience.
Data as of August 8, 2026, indicates a rising trend in identity verification and appeals, attributed to the efforts of local agencies and accessible service channels. Presently, there are 3.1 million new eligible recipients, with 2.3 million (73%) having verified their identity, up from 68% on August 2nd. The number of unverified individuals has decreased to 830,000 (27%) from 980,000 (31%). The government urges new eligible recipients to expedite the verification process.
Eligible citizens must verify their identity to start using their benefits from October 1, 2026. The Ministry of Finance will allow identity verification until January 12, 2027. Provinces with the highest number of unverified individuals include Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ubon Ratchathani, Buriram, and Khon Kaen. Local agencies have been instructed to expedite public awareness campaigns and streamline the process to ensure full access to citizen rights.
Regarding requests for reconsideration of eligibility, the latest figures show 4.2 million applicants, up from 4.1 million on August 2nd. Approximately 5 million people have yet to submit a request for reconsideration of their eligibility. They are urged to do so by August 31st, 2026, to protect their rights. The provinces with the highest proportion of requests for rights review are Lampang (60%), Narathiwat (59%), Pattani (58%), Yala (54%), and Phrae (53%), reflecting successful outreach and facilitation by local agencies.
Ms. Rachada noted that the government has established comprehensive service channels, including government applications, the Paotang app, the project website, all five state-owned banks, and One Stop Service (OSS) centers at 878 district offices nationwide. Provincial governors, district officers, local administrative organizations, sub-district heads, and village heads have been tasked with assisting the elderly, disabled, and vulnerable groups unable to use online services.
'The number of people verifying their identity and submitting appeals for reconsideration of their eligibility continues to increase. The government will monitor and facilitate the process fully until the final day. Therefore, we encourage those who have not yet acted to exercise their rights within the specified period to avoid missing out on the welfare benefits they are entitled to,' Ms. Rachada said.