Bangkok: The government has taken a significant step by eliminating the automatic eligibility criterion based on vehicle age, sparking hopes that an additional 2-3 million low-income individuals will qualify for welfare benefits under the state welfare card scheme.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, the Deputy Minister of Transport, announced the removal of the "old vehicle" criterion, which previously limited eligibility for the welfare card. This change is aimed at allowing more people to benefit from the scheme, particularly those who own cars older than 20 years or motorcycles older than 15 years. The Department of Transport is working diligently to submit the necessary data to the central treasury this August, following over 200,000 appeals from residents.
The Department of Land Transport is actively preparing to facilitate this new measure. An estimated 1 million individuals are expected to qualify for the automatic waiver based on the revised criteria. By mid-August, the department plans to consolidate and present all relevant data to the Ministry of Finance for initial review. Since the decision was made at a recent Cabinet meeting, transportation offices have been inundated with appeals, totaling over 200,000, which are being addressed promptly.
To further streamline the process and assist residents, the Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Interior to establish One-Stop Service centers at every district office nationwide. Additionally, efforts are underway to deploy officials to visit the homes of vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and disabled, who may face difficulties traveling to district offices. This initiative ensures that no eligible individual is overlooked, as village heads and community leaders are tasked with coordinating directly with district offices to address the needs of their constituents.