Ratchada revealed that the government is listening to all public voices and plans to extend the appeal and review period for the State Welfare Card, emphasizing that no truly needy individuals will be left out of the system.
On 22 July 2026, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, stated that the government is reviewing the criteria for the State Welfare Card to better target "genuine poor" individuals to ensure benefits reach the intended recipients. This follows data not being updated for 4-5 years, resulting in over 2.3 million previously overlooked needy people now being included in the system.
The spokesperson said the government listens to all suggestions and complaints from the public, especially regarding cases of false claims to benefits. The government has expedited revising the criteria to remove ineligible recipients and improved the appeal process to be more convenient and fair, including extending the appeal submission period and accepting factual information from the public to carefully reconsider eligibility.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance is in the process of revising criteria to better align with people's living conditions, such as vehicle ownership of older cars, and is consulting with the Ministry of Transport to establish appropriate and fair guidelines.
At the same time, the Ministry of Interior has established comprehensive One Stop Service centers at every district office to facilitate identity verification, submission of rights review requests, and fact-checking. Individuals whose information was used without consent can request a review, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The government will strictly prosecute those who fraudulently use others' personal data for gain.
"The government is reviewing the State Welfare system to provide more targeted assistance to the public through thorough data verification and screening. It also offers affected individuals the opportunity to clarify facts through the appeal process to ensure fair eligibility decisions, leading to improved criteria and operational mechanisms that reflect current circumstances. The State Welfare Card is just one of many government assistance measures; citizens can also access over 72 other benefits, such as elderly allowances, disability benefits, and educational welfare," she said.