Many elderly people were unable to hold back their tears and expressed sadness after being informed by the system. "Did not meet the criteria for the 2026 State Welfare Card." They rushed to submit requests for rights review.
On 17 July 2026, reporters reported that after the announcement of the eligibility results for the new round of the 2026 State Welfare Card program, a large crowd gathered at Krung Thai Bank's Watthana Nakhon branch in Sa Kaeo province. Many elderly and low-income individuals came to check their results, confirm their identity if qualified, and inquire about appeal procedures if denied.
Since the morning, people continuously queued inside the bank. Officials provided assistance and guidance on identity confirmation and appeal submission for those who failed the screening. Many arrived hopeful to receive government aid as before but were disappointed by the results; several showed serious expressions, and some even shed tears in sorrow.
Several elderly individuals stated that they had continuously received the State Welfare Card benefits, but the new selection round disqualified them despite still being poor, having no regular income, and relying on government support to live. They questioned the evaluation criteria and urged relevant agencies to carefully and fairly verify information for those truly in need.
During conversations, many residents highlighted that the screening system should reach genuinely poor people and simplify identity verification and appeal processes. Especially for the elderly unfamiliar with technology, many had to rely on relatives or staff for assistance. They want the government to improve the system to be easier to understand and less complicated.
Residents also criticized certain eligibility conditions, such as owning a vehicle or asset information that might not reflect reality. Many felt that truly needy individuals were denied benefits, while some better-off people passed the selection.
The atmosphere at the bank was filled with complaints and sighs. A phrase frequently mentioned today was "I'm already too rich," which many elderly said bitterly after being disqualified despite living in hardship. It was a sarcastic comment on the evaluation results that labeled them as ineligible low-income recipients.
Mrs. Lek Praidam, 74, one of those checking her eligibility, tearfully revealed that she was denied the State Welfare Card because she was listed as a partner in a company or partnership, although she had never run a business, invested, or even known she was associated with that company. She is a general laborer with uncertain income and depends on government aid to survive. She was shocked and confused by the reason for disqualification since she never signed any documents or set up a company.
She intends to file an appeal and requests the relevant authorities to verify the facts to prove that the information is incorrect. Officials advised those denied to submit appeals within the government’s specified period and provide supporting documents. If the data used in the evaluation is found incorrect, the responsible agencies can review and correct it.
However, many citizens hope the appeal process will be transparent, thorough, and fair to genuinely poor people, ensuring government assistance reaches those truly in need and reducing data inaccuracies that could affect the rights of the genuinely poor population.