Report Thailand Overhauls Stimulus Strategy, Cancels Digital Wallet Plans

[Beerzy65]

On 5/17/2025 at 2:10 AM, redwood1 said:

So if you were not over 60 or disabled your S**T out of luck as far as your 10,000 goes...Which by the way means most of the Thai population..

 

After weekly non stop promises on top of promises on top of absolute 100% guarantees that it was going to happen no if ands or buts over and over repeatedly....

 

I bet there are more than a few very disappointed people..

Yes my wife who's 55

[ujayujay]

LOS 2025......No plan, no idea, no Strategy

[NatureFilm]

If they will do with any tax plans in the same way, it would help the country a lot!

[MarkBR]

2 minutes ago, NatureFilm said:

If they will do with any tax plans in the same way, it would help the country a lot!

Obviously.  Maybe ditch visas.  All farang spend money from external sources in thailand - whether short-stay or long-stay.  They should try to make it more friendly to all farang instead of obsessing about imaginary high-quality tourists.

[Quentin Zen]

Telling a kid 16-20 you are giving them 10,000 baht.......free.......hope eternal.  shopee all day, lazada, dreams of a better life!!!!!  the excitement must have been crazy.  10k is more than 1 month at 711.

 

and then reality.  Beat it, kid!!!!!  NOPE

 

yea, those kids will never forget.   ever.    

[watchcat]

23 hours ago, Guderian said:

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has given an assurance that the third phase of the government’s 10,000-baht handout programme will not be scrapped.

She was responding on Thursday to reports that the government would review the third phase

 

Come Friday and it's all forgotten.....

[flexomike]

On 5/16/2025 at 5:03 PM, Peabody said:

It was a joke, not a serious promise.

Similar to Day 1 promises to end the Ukraine/Russia war, lower grocery/gas/housing/egg/car/medicine prices, removing tax on SSA, tips, and some other BS, etc., etc.

With no help from the dems the bill to stop taxing SS and tips didn't fly, eggs are down gas is down, what else do you need to bitch about Mister Peabody

[flexomike]

2 hours ago, MarkBR said:

Was never going to happen.  It would have sent money to poor Thais, thus always going to be opposed by HiSo Thais.

First two phases were sent out, the third phase was just for the youth which didn't make any sense too start with.

[Sydebolle]

Too much text on the issue; I wonder just one thing:

- some citizen got their 10,000 Baht to splurge on
- some citizen walked away empty-handed

So much to unite the electorate; wondering how many of those short-changed this time will vote for the next promiser in the Land. Wondering how long the taxpayer will watch idly how his hard-earned tax contributions are distributed flame-thrower-style among the Thais; most of them never ever having paid a single cent of tax to start with. 

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

On 5/17/2025 at 4:27 AM, csmith said:

Despite earlier statements suggesting the program was under review, the cancellation specifically affects the third phase targeting 2.7 million young people aged 16–20. The first two phases, which provided cash handouts to welfare cardholders, people with disabilities, and individuals aged 60 and above, were implemented as planned .

 

On 5/17/2025 at 4:27 AM, csmith said:

Despite earlier statements suggesting the program was under review, the cancellation specifically affects the third phase targeting 2.7 million young people aged 16–20. The first two phases, which provided cash handouts to welfare cardholders, people with disabilities, and individuals aged 60 and above, were implemented as planned .

Except that many over 60s that I personally know, including my wife, did not get it.

[Tom100]

On 5/17/2025 at 5:27 AM, csmith said:

Despite earlier statements suggesting the program was under review, the cancellation specifically affects the third phase targeting 2.7 million young people aged 16–20. The first two phases, which provided cash handouts to welfare cardholders, people with disabilities, and individuals aged 60 and above, were implemented as planned .

This is correct. 

Phase 1 has already distributed money to 14.5 million vulnerable individuals – 12.4 million state welfare card holders and 2.1 million disabled people by direct bank transfers

 

Phase 2 has already distributed money to 4 million elderly by direct bank transfers

 

ONLY Phase 3 was scrapped... for the 2.7 million youths aged 16 to 20. This  was to be paid by a  “digital wallet” .

 

The rationale is that this government can spend the money more effectively to boost the economy than 16-20 year olds. HA HA HA!

 

[black tabby12345]

On 5/16/2025 at 5:03 PM, Peabody said:

It was a joke, not a serious promise.

Similar to Day 1 promises to end the Ukraine/Russia war, lower grocery/gas/housing/egg/car/medicine prices, removing tax on SSA, tips, and some other BS, etc., etc.

 

Pheu Thai now can transfer the cause of giveaway  cancellation to the lunatic in the White House.

 

[sandyf]

On 5/16/2025 at 5:19 PM, proton said:

They lied then in other words

I can only assume that you think you know a government that doesn't.

[Magictoad]

On 5/16/2025 at 5:19 PM, proton said:

They lied then in other words

Which governments don't? Yours? Mine? Everyone on this forum, wherever they come from has a government that lies, sadly. It's certainly not just the Thai government by any means. 

[BeastOfBodmin]

On 5/16/2025 at 4:17 PM, snoop1130 said:

...the Thai government has officially cancelled its much-anticipated digital wallet scheme, initially poised to provide 10,000 baht to each young citizen aged 16-20.

Is it also planned that, once they get their ducks in a row, this digital wallet scheme will be used as a vehicle for the "Digital Baht" aka CDBC? Apparently the wallet prevents the currency from being spent on certain items and in certain places.

 

Quote

n July 2024, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that the government would soon use digital wallets to distribute 10,000 baht ($281) to Thai citizens over the age of 16 with incomes under 840,000 baht ($23,710) and savings under 500,000 baht ($14,072). For context, the average income in Bangkok was 468,600 baht ($13,222) in 2021. Applicants must verify their identity using both their national identification card and facial recognition. Once approved, recipients are only allowed to spend the money within the districts listed on their identification cards, and they must do so within six months of receiving the money. Furthermore, recipients are not allowed to spend the money on lottery tickets, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, cannabis, kratom, gift cards, cash cards, gold, diamonds, gems, oil, fuel, natural gas, electrical appliances, electronic devices, or communication devices. In fact, recipients are not even allowed to spend the money online, at department stores, or at large chain stores.