I hope this is the appropriate forum to post as it has to do with retirement.  Recently I retired from 9,5 years of working for a BOI company.  It was difficult but I got immigration to change my reason for stay from Work to Retirement with a Non-B visa.  I waited 3 weeks as suggested by my HR for the data to get into the system before I went to SS office to apply for the section 39 benefits. I went with a Thai friend to the new SS office in Ayutthaya, filled out 2 forms and went to counter.  First was told I needed to be married. After some discussion they said OK but needed proof of permanent residency. I whipped out the documents used for my Extension of Stay, New 1 year lease, Blue book copy and signed my landlord and his ID card.  They said no, they needed my name in a Yellow house book.  I contacted my landlord first, he is looking into it.  But from what I hear it is up to the local ampere office if they want to give or not.  Most say very difficult to get.

 

So my question and I hope you great folks can help.  Does anyone know of a SS office that doesn't require the house book?  Any way to buy your way onto a house book?  All suggestions are welcome.  I really don't want to buy a condo to get my benefits.

 

Thanks in advance all,

Jeff

Copy the regulations and give them to them. or contact the SSO hotline (1506) and tell them about the denial and ask if they cab do anything for you.

If that doesn't help, ask for a formal decision to deny you. They than have to give a formal letter stating the grounds for deniying your application. And this letter you can challenge with the courts, so the SSO-office will think twice about denying you as they will want to cover their back. 

You will need the Yellowbook and Pink ID card to register for Section 39 Benefits - contact the SSO head office if you want to confirm details, FYI can still be a bit of a pain once you ahve the above, I went to a second SSO office that was more accomodating in BKK.

 

I would suggest going to the local district office and explain to them your reason for getting it, the required documents can range a lot but not impossible, will probably take a few trips.

 

You have 6 months from the date of finishing your employment to register/start paying for section 39.

On 1/13/2025 at 12:56 PM, Preacher said:

Copy the regulations and give them to them. or contact the SSO hotline (1506) and tell them about the denial and ask if they cab do anything for you.

If that doesn't help, ask for a formal decision to deny you. They than have to give a formal letter stating the grounds for deniying your application. And this letter you can challenge with the courts, so the SSO-office will think twice about denying you as they will want to cover their back. 

Thanks for the advise, currently working with landlord but he is dragging his feat on calling the office to confirm. 

On 1/13/2025 at 12:56 PM, Preacher said:

Copy the regulations and give them to them. or contact the SSO hotline (1506) and tell them about the denial and ask if they cab do anything for you.

If that doesn't help, ask for a formal decision to deny you. They than have to give a formal letter stating the grounds for deniying your application. And this letter you can challenge with the courts, so the SSO-office will think twice about denying you as they will want to cover their back. 

 

Contacting the SSO 1506 hotline. There's an English language option. If that doesn't come up it just means that there's no English speakers on this duty at that time. Don't give up try again later or the next day.

 

Worth it to keep trying because the English speaking staff are very helpful and very polite. I suspect many / all the English speaking Thai staff are the SSO lawyers.

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Contacting the SSO 1506 hotline. There's an English language option. If that doesn't come up it just means that there's no English speakers on this duty at that time. Don't give up try again later or the next day.

 

Worth it to keep trying because the English speaking staff are very helpful and very polite. I suspect many / all the English speaking Thai staff are the SSO lawyers.

Thanks, I didn't know of this hotline.  Greatly appreciated,

4 hours ago, jtrump said:

Thanks, I didn't know of this hotline.  Greatly appreciated,

But please note, the 1506 staff will give you good information about the policies of the SSO but they don't take action, that must be done by the local SSO office in your location.  

20 hours ago, jtrump said:

Thanks for the advise, currently working with landlord but he is dragging his feat on calling the office to confirm. 

You should visit the Amphur yourself to find out their requirements to avoid any miscommunication.

 

Standard requirements at most Amphurs are now;

First and foremost, you must have the permission of the person named as 'Head of Household' in the Blue house book to use their address for registration. They have to attend with you to sign the consent application form.

 

Original Documents.

1. Passport.

2. Certified Embassy copy of your Passport, translated into Thai, then the certified copy and Thai translation legalized by the Legalisation department of Thailand's MFA.

3. Certified Embassy copy of your birth certificate, with names of Mother and Father, translated into Thai, then the certified copy and Thai translation legalized by the Legalisation department of Thailand's MFA.

4. 2nd Passport Photo for application form.

5. House owners Blue book and ID card.

Copies.

1. Passport Home Page.

2. Passport page of current Visa or Extension.

3. House owners Tabien Baan (signed with contact number)

4. House owners ID card (signed with contact number)

 

You should first check the exact requirements with your local Amphur office, as requirements can vary throughout Provinces within Thailand.

 

After successfully obtaining your Yellow Tabien Baan, the Amphur should then also issue your (pink) ID card for foreigners, after taking a thumb print and photo.

 

The Yellow Tabien Baan and ID card should be issued FOC, although some amphurs charge a small administration fee.

 

Note: Requirements can vary from each Amphur office.

The above information is for general guidance only, and you should first check with your local Amphur for their personal requirements.

 

Yeah ^^^, the pink ID is a must now, our local SS office also required a bank account that was registered using the pink ID number in order for me to pay by direct debit.

 

The ladies at our SS office were incredibly helpful although I did have the assistance of a Thai speaker.

 

I also got a refund of the $$$ paid in over the years as I couldn't get the Thai pension payment, 200k THB was a welcome bonus.

A fairly recent thread on the subject:-

 

 

Update,

Landlord is onboard but went with friend into local Amphur office as suggested. They are under the impression there are only 2 reasons to get the Yellow Book, marriage and condo ownership.  They are very nice people but feel they are unable to help based on what they know.  How can prove to them that the this is mandatory for SS and totally above board and legal?  I have sent an email to SSO office as the 1506 hotline has no answer, no ringing, no nothing.  My Thai friend is researching the Civil Registration Act and Immigration Acts but have not found something they will accept.  Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

On 1/13/2025 at 12:56 PM, Preacher said:

Copy the regulations and give them to them. or contact the SSO hotline (1506) and tell them about the denial and ask if they cab do anything for you.

If that doesn't help, ask for a formal decision to deny you. They than have to give a formal letter stating the grounds for deniying your application. And this letter you can challenge with the courts, so the SSO-office will think twice about denying you as they will want to cover their back. 

Do you know where the regulations are from a Thai government website?  I found the Civil Registration Act 2 but that is difficult to read unless you are lawyer.  My Amphur is very nice and willing to help but unsure if can proceed legally, asking for me to prove it to them.

On 1/17/2025 at 10:34 AM, Crossy said:

our local SS office also required a bank account that was registered using the pink ID number in order for me to pay by direct debit.

I got this too - "name must be in Thai script."  All the banks said it was illegal for them to create an account w/o my passport # as the ID.   Maybe the Rayong SSO office will still let you register a "farang" bank-account for payment, so do not have to pay at 7/11 every month - are purportedly more friendly there.

 

6 hours ago, jtrump said:

... the 1506 hotline has no answer, no ringing, no nothing. 

Interesting.  ~ two years ago, I had that problem with one of my SIMs, but not the other.  They are different providers.

 

6 hours ago, jtrump said:

Do you know where the regulations are from a Thai government website? 

The SSO law is here:
https://www.mol.go.th/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/07/social_security_act_2533_sso_1.pdf
 

... but I think the one you need is for your "rights" to a yellow-book / pink-id.  I think the best thing for your case would be something from the SSO stating you need it to apply for the benefits.  Maybe your local SSO office has something in writing.  Hopefully the hotline can assist.

2 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

I got this too - "name must be in Thai script."  All the banks said it was illegal for them to create an account w/o my passport # as the ID.   Maybe the Rayong SSO office will still let you register a "farang" bank-account for payment, so do not have to pay at 7/11 every month - are purportedly more friendly there.

 

Krung Thai Bank did it for me no real issues. They needed my passport as well as my pink ID (and my driving licence) but what came out worked with the SS Office 🙂

 

 

 

16 hours ago, jtrump said:

Do you know where the regulations are from a Thai government website?  I found the Civil Registration Act 2 but that is difficult to read unless you are lawyer.  My Amphur is very nice and willing to help but unsure if can proceed legally, asking for me to prove it to them.

Section 9 and 10 of that Act are the relevant sections.

Section 9. The following shall be added as paragraph two of Section 12 of the Civil Registration Act B.E. 2534:

“To be useful for civil registration data storing and using, governmental organizations whose work relates to personal data of people without Thai nationality within the Thai Kingdom shall refer such data to the Director of Central Registration as requested.”

 

Section 10. Paragraph two of Section 14 of the Civil Registration Act B.E. 2534 shall be repealed and replaced by the following:

“The registrar shall proceed immediately when accepting such applications under (2). If the application is denied or partly preceded, the applicant shall appeal to the provincial registrar, the Bangkok registrar or the Director of Central Registration within 15 days from the day of acknowledgment from the registrar.

 

Some Amphurs are not up to date, unsure, or confused of the requirements, so tend to invent problems that shouldn't exist.

1. Have you asked the Labour dept to supply something in writing to confirm it's a requirement to obtain a YB and ID cars for SS purposes.

2. Visit the 'Provincial' Amphur who are more experinced and complain (as section 10 advises).

 

I've posted this before, but a friend in a similar position to yourself was being given the runaround by his local Amphur making up ridicululous requirements.
I took him to the Provincial office (who issued my YB) to lodge a complaint.
Unfortunately the Provincial registrar could not overrule the district registrar as they held the same rank.
He suggested complaining to the ombudsman, but that would be time consumming, or, to regiser him in my YB, then a month later return to have him removed from my book as if he was moving to a new address (actually his existing address) and they would give him a form to take to his district Amphur, to issue a new YB due to a change of address.

If already in a YB and merely changing address, then the new Amphur must issue a new YB.

 

That's exactly what we did and with the form from the Provincial office, his district office issued him a new YB, new address, without question.

11 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

I got this too - "name must be in Thai script."  All the banks said it was illegal for them to create an account w/o my passport # as the ID.   Maybe the Rayong SSO office will still let you register a "farang" bank-account for payment, so do not have to pay at 7/11 every month - are purportedly more friendly there.

My branch of Bangkok bank informed me I could change my form of ID from my Passport to my pink Thai ID card, but then my name, address, statement and all transactions, SMS texts, would appear in Thai not English - I declined.

On 1/22/2025 at 10:59 AM, Liquorice said:

My branch of Bangkok bank informed me I could change my form of ID from my Passport to my pink Thai ID card, but then my name, address, statement and all transactions, SMS texts, would appear in Thai not English - I declined.

If that included a new bank-book with my name printed in Thai script, I would do it. 

FINAL UPDATE:

After 3 months, I have finally gotten my Yellow House book and Pink Card.  Quite an ordeal.  First issue was convincing them I am eligible, After a few days talking with my Thai friend, Amphur called head office and I was cleared to get a Yellow book.  Several weeks went by with almost daily communication and finally requirements were nailed down. Of course I needed the translated documents from my embassy and certified by Thai.

Then came the interview, difficult to nail down a date as a supervisor was needed to be present along with my landlord, who drove  an hour, and 2 witnesses that needed to take off work.

Arrive at 10AM, 2.5 hours of talking to my landlord and witnesses and filling out forms.  After 3 hours, I am told it needs approving and will take a week or two.  10 days and it was approved.  Now waiting for landlord to be free to go back again.  Not happy, landlord had to go twice.

Finally, I got the Yellow book but still had to go back for the pink card as SS couldn't accept as they needed a code off the Pink ID card.  Waited another week for Landlord to be free, about to go on a Friday, checked requirements in advance.

Nope, only Tuesday -- Thursday 3:30 - 5:00

Went back next week and now proud owner of a yellow book and Pink ID card,

 

Next problem, I read in a thread that to move, you need to contact the Amphur where you currently live.  They will give you a paper to take to next new Amphur.  Asked my Amphur about this and they said contact new Amphur only with new landlord.  

 

Anyone besides me have a Yellow House book based on renting?  Would love to hear your comments on updating when moving.

 

Thanks all and appreciate all the help,

Regards,

Jeff

 

1 hour ago, jtrump said:

Next problem, I read in a thread that to move, you need to contact the Amphur where you currently live.  They will give you a paper to take to next new Amphur.  Asked my Amphur about this and they said contact new Amphur only with new landlord.  

 

Anyone besides me have a Yellow House book based on renting?  Would love to hear your comments on updating when moving.

I rented when I got my 1st Yellow-Book - took months AFTER I had completed all paperwork / witnesses / etc.  When I moved, I went only to the new amphur office, presented my Chanote, Blue-Book, Pink ID-Card, and old Yellow-Book, and got a new YB - nothing needed from the previous Amphur.  It was done in an hour.

 

The 2nd was my own condo, vs a rental - so as a renter, you would need the new-landlord to present their chanote / blue-book, and sign-off on it.   Still, MUCH easier than the initial process.

22 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

I rented when I got my 1st Yellow-Book - took months AFTER I had completed all paperwork / witnesses / etc.  When I moved, I went only to the new amphur office, presented my Chanote, Blue-Book, Pink ID-Card, and old Yellow-Book, and got a new YB - nothing needed from the previous Amphur.  It was done in an hour.

 

The 2nd was my own condo, vs a rental - so as a renter, you would need the new-landlord to present their chanote / blue-book, and sign-off on it.   Still, MUCH easier than the initial process.

Rob,

Thanks again for clarification. That is what I was hoping for.  Will negotiate with landlord before signing lease that they will need to help with TM-30 and Yellow Book/Pink ID card.

Hopefully smooth going from here on out.

Jeff