Ministry to review welfare card rules

Some elderly parents excluded from aid

The Finance Ministry will review the eligibility criteria for the state welfare card scheme following concerns that some elderly parents have been unfairly disqualified after their children claimed tax deductions on their behalf, despite not providing any financial support.

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said on Monday that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had instructed the ministry to re-examine the rule after receiving complaints from members of the public.

Under the current rules, parents can lose eligibility for the state welfare card scheme if their children claim a parental tax deduction, even when they do not actually provide financial support.

However, authorities acknowledged that the reality may be different in some cases.

"In today's Thai society, there are cases where children claim tax deductions but do not genuinely take care of their parents," said Mr Ekniti, also a deputy prime minister.

"We are concerned that this could have unintended consequences," Mr Ekniti said.

"The prime minister has therefore instructed us to review whether this criterion is unfair to parents whose children have claimed benefits on their behalf without actually providing support."

Mr Ekniti said the review would be considered by the Pracharat welfare committee for the grassroots economy and society, which oversees the state welfare card programme.

The scheme's primary objective is to assist people facing genuine hardship who lack adequate support or access to other welfare mechanisms.

Authorities have received numerous complaints over the past several years that some cardholders are not truly in need, while others experiencing severe hardship have been excluded from the system, he said.

The government is currently reviewing existing beneficiaries and is opening registration for potential new recipients until June 21. The Interior Ministry has also been tasked with identifying vulnerable individuals who may have been overlooked, particularly those who are poor and have no one to care for them.

"The review would be carried out as quickly as possible," he said. While the disputed tax-deduction criterion was based on claims made during the previous tax year, officials would consider whether adjustments are needed in future screening rounds to ensure fairness for all parties.

He reiterated that the state welfare card is intended for the most vulnerable groups and that stricter screening is necessary to ensure limited public funds are directed to those who genuinely need assistance.

Individuals removed from the programme but who do not meet the definition of severe hardship may instead qualify for support under the government's "Thais Help Thais Plus 60/40" co-payment scheme.

Meanwhile, Finance Ministry spokes­- man Vinit Visessuvanapoom said the issue would be submitted to the relevant welfare committee for urgent consideration before the announcement of approved beneficiaries on July 17.

Mr Vinit said the review reflected the government's commitment to balancing two objectives: reducing welfare leakage by removing recipients whose financial circumstances have improved, while also expanding access for genuinely disadvantaged people who may have been left out of previous registration rounds.