The Prime Minister ordered in today's Cabinet meeting a review of the "State Welfare Card" criteria to ensure that eligible recipients are not excluded from the system. He pointed out that citizens should not have to approach the government themselves or wait to file appeals; instead, government agencies must reach out to the people.
On 21 July 2026, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed after the 15th Cabinet meeting of 2026 at the Government House that Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, spoke about "reviewing the eligibility criteria for the State Welfare Card recipients." Following the announcement of the eligibility verification results for the 2026 State Welfare Card, he stated that public feedback indicated some distressed individuals failed screening despite still needing government assistance. Examples include those listed as owners of old vehicles no longer in use but still registered, or students continuing their education for self-development. The current criteria do not accurately reflect real living conditions.
The Prime Minister emphasized, "Citizens should not have to seek out the government or wait to file appeals. Instead, government agencies must take the initiative to go into the field, listen, and proactively address issues to ensure those deserving assistance do not fall through the cracks." He assigned the following tasks:
Ministry of Interior To coordinate work with provincial governors and local agencies to quickly survey those who failed screening but still have valid reasons for assistance, and promptly send the data to the Ministry of Finance for consideration.
Department of Land Transport To urgently update the vehicle registration database, reduce citizens' burden in deregistering or canceling vehicles no longer in use, and expedite proposals to amend laws or regulations that pose obstacles.
Ministry of Finance To promptly review the eligibility screening criteria to align with current realities and hardships, examine any criteria that might exclude eligible individuals, and propose improvement measures to the Cabinet without delay.