The second phase of Thailand’s 10,000-baht (S$400) cash handout scheme begins on Monday (29 Jan) with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra officially launching the campaign.
According to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, the scheme will benefit approximately three million citizens aged 60 and above who meet the eligibility criteria.
Mr Julapun explained that eligible recipients must have an annual income below 840,000 baht and total deposits in all accounts of less than 500,000 baht.
Those already registered through the Tang Rath application will receive funds via the PromptPay service, but only if they link their PromptPay accounts to their national ID cards.
“I would like to reiterate that the three million recipients must link their PromptPay accounts to their national ID cards to receive the 10,000 baht,” said Mr Julapun.
Individuals in vulnerable groups who already received money during the first phase of the scheme are excluded from this round.
For recipients unable to link their PromptPay accounts in time for this phase, the Comptroller General’s Department has confirmed they will still be able to receive their funds in subsequent rounds, scheduled for 28 February, 28 March, and 28 April 2025. Accounts must be linked at least three days before the scheduled transfer date to ensure payment.
During the first phase, 33,767 state welfare cardholders failed to receive their money due to issues such as incorrect PromptPay links, temporarily suspended or closed accounts, or errors in bank account numbers. Mr Julapun cautioned recipients in the second phase to avoid repeating these mistakes to ensure smooth distribution of funds.
The government has arranged a formal event to launch the second phase, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra personally overseeing the commencement. She will “press the button” to initiate the scheme and participate in a video call with some recipients to congratulate them and collect feedback on the process.
Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub stated, “The government will also gather information about any challenges encountered during the registration process, particularly among individuals without access to smartphones.”
In addition to the second phase, plans for the scheme’s third phase are well underway. Mr Julapun noted that the digital wallet application being developed for this purpose is nearing completion and is expected to undergo system testing in February and March 2025.
The third phase, aimed at individuals aged 16–59, is slated to distribute funds between March and April. “The digital wallet development has progressed quite a bit. The system itself is ready for testing in February-March,” he added.
The cash handout scheme is part of a broader initiative by the government to support low-income citizens and enhance the use of digital financial systems across the country.
