Can a retired expat get social secturity ?

[Don Chance]

I heard under section 40 you could even if you didn't work in Thailand.

 

https://www.mol.go.th/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/02/2-แผ่นพับกองทุนประกันสังคม-EN.pdf

[Pouatchee]

no you cant. you have top have been brought in by an employer and contributed to it. then if you leave job you need to pay un every month to remain eligible.

[Tropicalevo]

I am not sure about your particular case.

However, my wife (from the UK) was an English teacher here in Thailand and when she died, there were payments from SS for her funeral etc.

However, I have been paying SS for more than 20 years and I am NOT expecting a pension from Thailand.

I am sure that old age pensions are only for Thai citizens. (I would not collect it anyway. They need it more than I do.)

[MarcelV]

Of course not, dude.

Save up or invest your money in crypto or hedge funds. As farangs we have the money to do so. The Thai are poor and must rely on SS and us western Caucasian white farangs to feed their families.

[observer90210]

I guess one can understand a bit better now,  why certain visa proceedings for Thailand are getting so stringent.

[Celsius]

8 minutes ago, MarcelV said:

The Thai are poor and must rely on SS and us western Caucasian white farangs to feed their families.

 

Social insurance is not for the poor

[KhaoNiaw]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

However, I have been paying SS for more than 20 years and I am NOT expecting a pension from Thailand.

I am sure that old age pensions are only for Thai citizens. (I would not collect it anyway. They need it more than I do.)

You would be entitled to a pension. They're go to anyone who has made the contributions. 20 years should put you between 4-5,000 baht a month or you could take it as a lump sum. I've known foreigners who've done both. I understand not wanting to take it though. You can log into the Social Security Office website to check your total contributions.

For the OP, I found an article in Thai Rath explaining the qualifications that apply for Section 40. No. 7 says that you don't have Thai nationality but hold a Thai ID card beginning with 0, 6 or 7 (but not 00).  If you're retired and over 65 it wouldn't be possible though. See No. 2 on the list, 15-65 years of age. 
https://www.thairath.co.th/lifestyle/life/2692205

Edited August 26, 2023 by KhaoNiaw

[marin]

9 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

I am sure that old age pensions are only for Thai citizens. (I would not collect it anyway. They need it more than I do.)

Worked 31 years here and paid in each and every month. I feel entitled to it and have been collecting it for just over a year. Not much even at the top, just under 6000B a month, but its there. Its all based on time of work but calculated as the top salary being 15,000B a month. 

[Jelli]

I don't believe foreigners can draw Thai pension. When you retire I believe a lump sum is returned. You can continue on with SSO insurance. That is my current understanding

[impulse]

34 minutes ago, marin said:

Worked 31 years here and paid in each and every month. I feel entitled to it and have been collecting it for just over a year. Not much even at the top, just under 6000B a month, but its there. Its all based on time of work but calculated as the top salary being 15,000B a month. 

The real benefit of paying in is the Gub'ment health insurance, which you can keep as long as you keep paying in a few bucks a month.  Probably not as good as a $500 a month plan with a Euro health insurance company, but good to have if you need it.

[KhaoNiaw]

 

1 hour ago, impulse said:

The real benefit of paying in is the Gub'ment health insurance, which you can keep as long as you keep paying in a few bucks a month.  Probably not as good as a $500 a month plan with a Euro health insurance company, but good to have if you need it.

The OP was asking about contributing under Section 40, which is a way for the self-employed or others outside formal employment to join. I'm not sure if he's aware that this doesn't provide health coverage, only daily payments intended to cover loss of income due to injury or sickness.  

Edited August 27, 2023 by KhaoNiaw

[Tropicalevo]

10 hours ago, KhaoNiaw said:

You would be entitled to a pension. They're go to anyone who has made the contributions. 20 years should put you between 4-5,000 baht a month or you could take it as a lump sum. I've known foreigners who've done both. I understand not wanting to take it though. You can log into the Social Security Office website to check your total contributions.
 

Thank you for that KhaoNiaw.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

The real benefit of paying in is the Gub'ment health insurance, which you can keep as long as you keep paying in a few bucks a month.  Probably not as good as a $500 a month plan with a Euro health insurance company, but good to have if you need it.

I received great treatment earlier this year... all covered by SS, bill was circa 5.5 million Iam told.

[impulse]

4 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

I received great treatment earlier this year... all covered by SS, bill was circa 5.5 million Iam told.

Was that in Thailand, or back home?

 

[Ralf001]

Just now, impulse said:

Was that in Thailand, or back home?

 

Thailand.

[impulse]

8 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Thailand.

Good info.  Was that while you were employed, or after your employment and you were paying into the program?

[Ralf001]

13 minutes ago, impulse said:

Good info.  Was that while you were employed, or after your employment and you were paying into the program?

Am still employed (employer held my job for 3 months), SS costs me Bt.750.00 a month.

My registered hospital is Phayathai Sriracha.

Edited August 27, 2023 by Ralf001

[foreverlomsak]

11 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

However, I have been paying SS for more than 20 years and I am NOT expecting a pension from Thailand.

Wasn't in as long as you, but when I retired from school, I got a refund from them, paid direct into bank account here. 

[FritsSikkink]

14 hours ago, MarcelV said:

Of course not, dude.

Save up or invest your money in crypto or hedge funds. As farangs we have the money to do so. The Thai are poor and must rely on SS and us western Caucasian white farangs to feed their families.

Quite a few Thais i know have a lot more money than 90% of the people on this forum.

[Olmate]

12 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Quite a few Thais i know have a lot more money than 90% of the people on this forum.

Yeah, but do they know you? 

[khunPer]

On 8/26/2023 at 5:54 PM, Don Chance said:

I heard under section 40 you could even if you didn't work in Thailand.

 

https://www.mol.go.th/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/02/2-แผ่นพับกองทุนประกันสังคม-EN.pdf

No, you need to fulfill the rights for SS to be eligible for the voluntary extension.

[hotchilli]

On 8/26/2023 at 10:54 PM, Don Chance said:

I heard under section 40 you could even if you didn't work in Thailand.

You have to pay in the get anything out...

Did you pay in?

[MangoKorat]

This topic brings up a question I've been meaning to ask. Sometime in the near future I will be setting up a Thai Ltd Company that will hopefully make a profit and therefore have to pay tax. I'm told that any directors or employees over 65 will either not have to pay SS on their salaries or will have any that is paid, returned.

 

I'm unsure what benefits an employee under 65 gets in terms of healthcare but I presume its the usual hospital cover etc. So if they don't have to pay SS when they reach 65 or pay it and get a refund, does that mean healthcare ends? Can they not elect to continue paying SS past 65 and therefore be eligible for healthcare cover?  What about someone joining the company who is already over 65, is there no way they can get health cover other than private?

 

In al cases I'm refering to expats - not Thai citizens.

Edited August 28, 2023 by MangoKorat