The cabinet yesterday approved the registration of 14.6 million low-income people eligible to receive benefits under a new phase of the government's state welfare card programme, which is due to begin on April 1, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said.
Results of the registration will be announced today, he added.
Up to 19.6 people applied for the state welfare card, but only 14.6 million were found in the selection process to be eligible, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.
Those 5.05 million people whose applications were rejected but still believe they are eligible can appeal the result from today until May 1, he said.
Results of their appeals will be announced by June 20, and those who are successful will be able to receive the state welfare benefits from July 1, he noted. As for the 14.6 million successful applicants, they will first have to go through an online identification process before they begin receiving the benefits from April 1, Mr Anucha said. They are required to complete the identification process by March 26 in order to begin receiving welfare from April, he said.
Those who miss the deadline will have to wait another month.
The government has to split the state welfare card project into phases because it requires substantial funding, said Gen Prayut, adding that each phase requires tens of billions of baht in state budget.
The project is a key mechanism the government has adopted to improve the state's care of the poor, he said.
Cardholders with an annual income of less than 30,000 baht are currently given 300 baht per month, while those with an annual income of between 30,000 and 100,000 baht get 200 baht a month.
Gen Prayut, who is the chief strategist for the United Thai Nation Party, said the party would raise the benefits to 1,000 baht per month.