"Social Security Office" advises. advises. "insured persons". with status. single. to prepare a letter specifying the death benefit recipient in advance to prevent issues of no entitled recipient.
On 24 June 2026, Ms. Kanchana Phuangkaew, Secretary-General of the Social Security Office, revealed regarding death benefit rights that according to the Social Security Act, Section 73 (2), insured persons who have contributed death benefits for at least 36 months, upon death, the Social Security Office will pay death benefits to the person whom the insured has specified in writing as the entitled recipient.
If the insured has not made a written designation of the entitled person, the death benefit will be equally divided among the insured’s spouse, parents, or children. Therefore, insured persons with family, children, or living parents who do not wish to assign the right to a specific person do not need to make a written designation, as the Social Security Office will distribute the money equally among legal heirs.
For insured persons who are unmarried or have no parents or legal heirs, if they wish to assign the death benefit right to another person, they can prepare a letter specifying the entitled recipient in advance. If no one is entitled, the social security fund will not pay benefits to anyone.
Therefore, the Social Security Office recommends that single insured persons prepare a document clearly naming the entitled recipient of death benefits, including the ID numbers of the recipient and witnesses completely, to ensure the document’s accuracy and validity as proof of rights. The insured or entitled persons can keep this document themselves and submit it to the Social Security Office upon the insured's death.
Regarding death benefits, the funeral manager will receive a funeral allowance of 50,000 baht. The death benefit will be paid to the person named in the letter. If no letter is made, it will be equally divided among the insured’s parents, spouse, or children. If contributions are made for 36 months but less than 120 months, heirs receive 50% of the average wage multiplied by 4 months. If contributions are 120 months or more, they receive 50% of the average wage multiplied by 12 months, plus eligibility for old-age pension under legal conditions.
Eligible persons can claim death compensation within 2 years from the insured’s date of death at any provincial or Bangkok Social Security Office. For more information, contact the Social Security hotline at 1506, available 24 hours daily, including public holidays.