Comparison of Eligibility Criteria for the State Welfare Card in 2022 vs 2026

Comparison of eligibility criteria for registration "State Welfare Card" in 2022 vs 2026: What are the differences?

Following the Cabinet's approval of the State Welfare Card registration for 2026, this program aims to assist truly low-income citizens who meet the target criteria to receive basic government welfare and improve their quality of life.

The Cabinet has assigned the Ministry of Interior (MOI), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and Pattaya City to survey eligible individuals who have never held a State Welfare Card before, using the MOI's system to verify those previously missed for welfare entitlement under the new criteria.

Steps for registering for the State Welfare Card

1. Current State Welfare Card holders must confirm their eligibility to participate in the program. Registration confirmation is open from 4 to 21 June 2026 through various channels, including:

• The "Pao Tang" application
• The "Thang Rath" application
• The project website: https://welfare.mof.go.th orhttps://บัตรสวัสดิการแห่งรัฐ.mof.go.th
• ATM machines of Krungthai Bank Public Company Limited
• Five registration units: Krungthai Bank, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Government Savings Bank, Government Housing Bank, and Islamic Bank of Thailand.

2. The Ministry of Interior, Bangkok, and Pattaya will survey those missed using the Basic Needs Database (JPT) of the Community Development Department or the electronic family book system of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and register their data through the MOI's system for checking missed welfare recipients. MOI, Bangkok, and Pattaya officials will assist with on-site registration.

3. Registration results will be announced on 17 July 2026 via the Pao Tang and Thang Rath applications, the website https://welfare.mof.go.th or https://บัตรสวัสดิการแห่งรัฐ.mof.go.th, and the five registration units. Those who pass eligibility verification but have never held a State Welfare Card can verify their identity from 17 July 2026 through the Pao Tang application and registration units, and start using the welfare benefits from 1 August 2026 onward.

Comparison of State Welfare Card eligibility criteria: 2022 vs 2026

State Welfare Card 2022 (original)

1. Thai nationality, aged 18 years or older

2. The same four disqualified groups

• Monks
• Prisoners
• Individuals in care facilities
• Government officials or state agency employees (except those earning no more than 100,000 baht per year), pensioners, retired officials, political officials, MPs, Senators.

3. Income: average family income not exceeding 100,000 baht per person per year

4. Financial assets: average family financial assets not exceeding 100,000 baht per person

5. Real estate: Farmers no more than 10 rai (family total no more than 20 rai); others no more than 1 rai (family total no more than 2 rai)

6. Credit cards: none

7. Debt: housing loan less than 1.5 million baht; vehicle loan less than 1 million baht

State Welfare Card 2026 (new)

1. Thai nationality, aged 18 years or older

2. The original four disqualified groups plus five new groups

• Monks
• Prisoners
• Individuals in care facilities
• Government officials or state agency employees (except those earning no more than 100,000 baht per year), pensioners, retired officials, political officials, MPs, Senators.
• Students
• Company shareholders, directors, or partners in partnerships
• Individuals with life insurance policies with annual premiums of 12,000 baht or more
• Those whose names have been used to claim tax deductions as parents, spouses, or children

3. Income (individual): income or payments to any person not exceeding 100,000 baht per year

4. Financial assets (individual): deposits and lottery savings combined not exceeding 100,000 baht

5. Real estate plus vehicle inspection: follows previous individual criteria, adding that applicants must not own a car, except motorcycles, three-wheelers, small passenger cars for hire, and agricultural vehicles

6. Credit cards: none

7. Debt: total loan limit across all accounts not exceeding 100,000 baht

In summary, the "State Welfare Card 2026" focuses on individual assessment, with more detailed financial and asset verification to ensure welfare reaches genuinely low-income recipients.