The NIDA Poll reveals that Thai people set the criterion for being "poor" as not having bank deposits and savings bonds exceeding 100,000 baht. Among respondents, 62.52% consider themselves truly poor and deserving of the state welfare card.
On 14 June 2026, the NIDA Poll Center at the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) released survey results titled "Are You Truly Poor?" conducted from 8 to 10 June 2026. The survey included people aged 18 and older with monthly incomes not exceeding 10,000 baht, as well as those without income, from all regions, educational levels, and occupations nationwide. A total of 1,310 respondents were sampled. The survey investigated public criteria for receiving the state welfare card in 2026. Sampling was done using probability sampling from the Master Sample database of NIDA Poll, employing multi-stage sampling. Data was collected via telephone interviews with a margin of error not exceeding 0.05 at a 97.0% confidence level.
The survey asked respondents with monthly incomes not exceeding 10,000 baht about the new criteria for receiving the state welfare card ("poor person's card") in 2026 and found the following:
1. Must not own combined condominium units exceeding 35 square meters. Among respondents, 44.81% strongly agreed, 25.57% strongly disagreed, 18.17% somewhat agreed, 10.69% somewhat disagreed, and 0.76% did not answer or were unsure.
2. Must not have combined bank deposits and savings bonds exceeding 100,000 baht. Among respondents, 43.66% strongly agreed, 26.49% strongly disagreed, 18.02% somewhat agreed, 11.53% somewhat disagreed, and 0.30% did not answer or were unsure.
3. Must not own detached houses, townhouses, row houses, or shophouses with combined land area exceeding 25 square wah. Among respondents, 41.99% strongly agreed, 28.02% strongly disagreed, 16.41% somewhat agreed, 13.05% somewhat disagreed, and 0.53% did not answer or were unsure.
4. Farmers must not own land and residences totaling more than 10 rai. Among respondents, 41.83% strongly agreed, 30.15% strongly disagreed, 15.65% somewhat agreed, 11.99% somewhat disagreed, and 0.38% did not answer or were unsure.
5. Must not have annual income or expenses exceeding 100,000 baht. Among respondents, 37.40% strongly agreed, 32.37% strongly disagreed, 15.11% somewhat disagreed, 14.89% somewhat agreed, and 0.23% did not answer or were unsure.
6. Must not have total loan amounts exceeding 100,000 baht. Among respondents, 37.02% strongly disagreed, 35.11% strongly agreed, 14.50% somewhat agreed, 12.90% somewhat disagreed, and 0.47% did not answer or were unsure.
7. Non-farmers must not own land and residences totaling more than 1 rai. Among respondents, 38.85% strongly disagreed, 33.21% strongly agreed, 14.35% somewhat disagreed, 13.21% somewhat agreed, and 0.38% did not answer or were unsure.
8. Must not be students. Among respondents, 39.99% strongly disagreed, 30.84% strongly agreed, 15.04% somewhat disagreed, 13.44% somewhat agreed, and 0.69% did not answer or were unsure.
9. Must not own a car or other vehicles except motorcycles with engine capacity not exceeding 300 cc, three-wheeled cars, small four-wheeled taxis, or agricultural vehicles, with a maximum of one vehicle per category. Among respondents, 42.06% strongly disagreed, 29.01% strongly agreed, 15.42% somewhat disagreed, 12.90% somewhat agreed, and 0.61% did not answer or were unsure.
10. Must not be a parent, spouse, or child whose name has been used for income tax deduction rights. Among respondents, 50.69% strongly disagreed, 19.30% strongly agreed, 16.34% somewhat disagreed, 11.91% somewhat agreed, and 1.76% did not answer or were unsure.
Finally, when asked to self-assess their eligibility for the state welfare card, respondents with monthly incomes not exceeding 10,000 baht answered as follows:
62.52% stated they are truly poor and deserve the state welfare card.
19.39% stated they are not poor and do not want the state welfare card.
12.60% stated they are not poor but want the state welfare card.
5.49% stated they are truly poor but do not want the state welfare card.
