A day of hope "Elderly" arrive to verify their identity for the "State Welfare Card 2026" On the first day, banks were crowded, with most arriving before opening hours
At 07:00 on 4 June 2026 GMT+7, reporters observed that today marks the first day to register for the State Welfare Card. The atmosphere at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Mueang district branch, Uthai Thani province, was filled with elderly people arriving before the bank had opened.
Security staff distributed queue cards to those waiting to verify their identity to maintain order and allowed eight people at a time to submit documents, preventing overcrowding for the staff. When asked, those waiting said they arrived before dawn because if they meet the criteria in this new registration round, they will receive monthly living cost assistance ranging from 1,000 to 1,745 baht per person, depending on eligibility. Thus, this is a hope for the poor or low-income individuals, most of whom had previously received benefits from past State Welfare Card programs.
Mr. Anusorn Sangkin, 61, a three-wheeled taxi driver, said that during this time of rising prices, the State Welfare Card is a source of hope. At least it helps buy rice to keep at home. He has been driving a taxi for over 20 years but now, with expensive fuel, he barely has money to fill up his vehicle, and passenger numbers have decreased daily.
Meanwhile, at Krung Thai Bank, Mueang district branch, near the entrance to Municipal Fresh Market 2, mostly elderly citizens queued to receive queue cards from bank staff who were assisting those verifying their identities, filling the area in front of the bank.
Everyone waited in line with hope of obtaining the rights to use the State Welfare Card. They came from the first day the government opened registration, and it is expected that citizens in Uthai Thani province will continue to crowd the banks daily from 4 to 21 June, as announced by the government.