The cabinet on Tuesday approved 8.38 billion baht allocated from the fiscal central budget to extend the cash handout programme for 10.9 million elderly people to help mitigate the impact of the rising cost of living.
Each beneficiary will receive 100-250 baht extra for six months, depending on their age between April and September. The extra cash handout will be on top of the monthly allowances they are normally entitled to.
The cabinet had approved the cash handout scheme for the elderly in April, but the payment has yet to be made now that the government needs time to study the funding source.
The first payout will be made in a lump sum for four months (April to July) from July 19 onwards, with the second payout scheduled for Aug 19 and the third payout in September.
The payment will be transferred directly to bank accounts and by cash distributed by local administrations.
Under the extra cashout scheme, 6.5 million elderly aged between 60 and 69 will be entitled to 100 baht extra (700 baht in total per month), with those aged between 70 and 79 (3 million people) to receive 150 baht extra (850 baht per month in total).
Those aged 80-89 (1.2 million people) will get 200 baht extra (1,000 baht per month in total), with those 90 and above (190,000 people) getting 250 baht extra (1,250 baht per month).
In a related development, the cabinet yesterday approved extending the waiver of the 40-baht hotel business fee which hotel owners have to pay to the Interior Ministry per room per year for another two years from July 1 this year to June 30, 2024.
The fee waivers aimed to help hotel operators who have been hard hit by the slowdown because of the Covid-19 outbreaks.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said although the state measures to control the spread of the Covid-19 outbreaks have been eased, allowing businesses to resume their activities, overall economic recovery will take some time, so such fee waivers will help reduce the expenses of hotel operators.