The Ministry of Finance has introduced the “Welfare Card” for those with very low income, and citizens in such circumstances who have registered their names and information will be eligible for the card under the condition that their annual salary is lower than 100,000 baht a year. After its launch, the government has registered 11.67 million citizens who are eligible for the welfare card. 

However, there has been questions raised on whether the welfare card can actually withdraw fresh cash. Could it?

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If you think this is true, you are wrong!

In reality, only a fraction of welfare card holders who are given special circumstances are eligible to withdraw cash which varies between 100-200 baht per month but the majority cannot do this. 

A cabinet meeting on 28 August, 2018 approved an additional 100-200 baht cash withdrawals for 3.9 million card holders for the second phase of the welfare card project. the withdrawal has currently been approved for a limited duration between September to December 2018. 

The 3.9 million welfare card holders who are eligible for the withdrawals were given this support because they had passed a professions training for quality of life development in accordance to the second phase of the welfare card. 

The second phase of the card will leave no one behind, as holders with an income less than 30,000 baht a year will receive an additional 300 baht per month from the original 200 baht which adds up to 500 baht. For the second category of holders who earn less than 100,000 baht a month, they will receive an additional 100 baht per month which converts to a total of 300 baht per month. 

The key incentive for the cash withdrawal as a relief is due to complaints from civilians that available products sold under the Blue Flag Shops are limited and does not meet the people’s needs or demands. 

Blue Flag Shops were built to accept welfare cards for purchasing household products and necessities under the government’s scheme.