Second phase of 10,000 baht handout for elderly starts January 27

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced that the second phase of the government’s 10,000 baht cash handout will start on January 27, two days earlier than initially planned. This phase will target approximately 3.5 to 4 million elderly citizens aged 60 and above, who will receive the funds through the government’s PromptPay app.

 

The economic stimulus programme was originally designed to cover all Thai citizens aged 16 and above, with an estimated budget of 500 billion baht. However, due to concerns about excessive spending, eligibility criteria based on income were introduced.

 

Eligible participants must have an annual income not exceeding 840,000 baht and combined bank savings of no more than 500,000 baht.

 

 

These criteria have reduced the number of eligible recipients to 50 million, with the government anticipating that about 90%, or 45 million, will register.

 

Initially, the plan was a one-time distribution nationwide but was altered to concentrate on vulnerable groups in the first phase. This included state welfare cardholders and individuals with disabilities, amounting to 14.5 million people.

 

Individuals who registered through the government’s Tang Rath app but have not yet received funds will be included in the third phase, expected to be distributed as digital money in April, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-15