What Is Social Security For? Its Necessity, Lost Benefits Without It, and How to Complain When Rights Are Violated

Explaining the purpose of social security amid public debates questioning its transparency and value. Check the benefits you would lose without social security, along with complaint channels that insured persons must know about.

Social security has become a hot topic with workers widely questioning its fund management and the benefits received. Today, we explore how necessary social security truly is, what benefits you lose without it, and what rights you have to demand as the owner of the contributions when concerns arise.

The heated controversy over social security as public confidence wavers.

Recently, the management of social security funds has been widely criticized, including issues like retirement age extension criteria, adjustments to contribution ceiling bases, and worries about the fund’s future liquidity. These concerns have raised key questions among workers: “What exactly are we paying contributions for?” and “Where is the value?”

Why have social security? Its necessity goes beyond just medical care.

Despite complaints, structurally social security serves as a social safety net designed to reduce life's risks in four main areas.

• Medical benefits: Helps reduce expenses when ill, injured, or facing new diseases.
• Income protection: Provides support during unemployment or disability to prevent total loss of income.
• Long-term planning: The accumulated old-age funds serve as a form of retirement security.
• Basic family rights: Including childbirth expenses and monthly child support payments.

What benefits are lost without social security?

If you leave the social security system, you must fully bear these costs yourself:

• Medical expenses: Although the universal health coverage exists, social security often offers more flexibility for specific treatments in certain cases.
• Loss of income compensation: In cases of prolonged illness or accidents preventing work, you receive no daily financial support.
• Future lump sums disappear: Including severance pay or old-age pensions, partly contributed by employers (for Section 33), which are compulsory savings with interest.

What can the public do when problems arise with social security?

If insured persons feel unfairly treated or detect irregularities in management, they can take the following actions.

• File complaints via hotline 1506: Social Security Information Service Center available 24/7.
• Submit appeals: If disagreeing with benefit decisions, one can appeal to the Appeals Committee within 30 days.
• Organize collective demands through the Social Security Board: Monitor the work of employee representatives on the board to voice workers’ needs.
• Online channels: Report issues via the website www.sso.go.th or the SSO Connect application.