Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas revealed progress on the Thai Chuey Thai Plus program after chairing the opening of MONEY EXPO 2026 BANGKOK. He said the program combines both the Half-Half Plus and state welfare card schemes under one name, "Thai Chuey Thai Plus," allowing the use of 1.4 to 1.5 million existing stores together, which will also help increase sales for those stores.
Initially, the government reaffirms its original plan to open registration for the entitlement on 25 May 2026, with spending starting on 1 June 2026. The exact number of eligible recipients is still under consideration, coordinating with the Ministry of Interior to obtain clear figures, as it will combine the 13.2 million state welfare cardholders and the Half-Half Plus program entitlements.Half-Half Plus programcombined as one
State welfare cardholders will receive 1,000 baht per month, consisting of the original 300 baht monthly subsidy plus an additional 700 baht from the government, without requiring personal contributions. The 60:40 ratio does not apply here because beneficiaries in this group are low-income and may not be able to afford the 40% personal spending portion.
Payments will be divided into two phases, each lasting two months, with 1,000 baht per month consecutively, totaling4,000baht. This is because new registration must be opened and eligibility reviewed for the second phase, especially for original state welfare cardholders who may now exceed income thresholds. The first two months' payments will be transferred to existing state welfare cardholders first, while the latter two months will cover those previously missed to ensure comprehensive entitlement as intended by the government.
Meanwhile, general public beneficiaries will receive entitlements under the Thai Chuey Thai Plus programbythe government providing a 60% subsidy while citizens pay 40%, but it is emphasized that each person can receive only one entitlement—for example, state welfare cardholders cannot also use the Half-Half Plus entitlement.
This program mainly aims to ease citizens' living costs and is not focused on economic stimulus, as the impact on the country's GDP cannot yet be assessed at this time.
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