Suradet proposes local screening for State Welfare Card income

Thairath•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Suradet Yasawat urges the government to overhaul State Welfare Card screening by utilizing local officials for more accurate income verification.

•Suradet Yasawat proposed using local mechanisms to survey and verify eligibility for the State Welfare Card.
•As of July 20, 2026, approximately 2.7 million people filed appeals after failing the State Welfare Card criteria.
•The government is tasking the Ministry of Finance to review the criteria before presenting them to the Cabinet.

•Many applicants were disqualified from the State Welfare Card due to vehicle ownership, even if the vehicles were old or broken.
•2.7 million people filed appeals regarding their State Welfare Card eligibility as of July 20, 2026.
•Suradet Yasawat stated that relying solely on income, assets, or tax data often leads to inaccuracies and excludes the truly poor.
•Suradet Yasawat suggested the government transition from fixed income measurements to a comprehensive vulnerability assessment including actual expenses.
•Suradet Yasawat proposed that the Ministry of Interior utilize village headmen, Kamnan, SAO presidents, mayors, and Village Health Volunteers to verify household data.
•Suradet Yasawat recommended the government shift the State Welfare Card from a temporary subsidy to a tool for economic opportunity by supporting community shops and small farmers.
•The government is currently having the Ministry of Finance review the criteria for submission to the Cabinet.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Suradet Yasawat(สุรเดช ยะสวัสดิ์)

Former Deputy Leader of the Palang Pracharath Party.

Palang Pracharath Party(พรรคพลังประชารัฐ)ℹ️

The political party where Suradet Yasawat served as Deputy Leader.

Ministry of Finance(กระทรวงการคลัง)ℹ️

The ministry tasked by the government to review the State Welfare Card criteria.

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The government body to which the revised welfare criteria will be presented.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

The ministry that oversees local government mechanisms and officials.

State Welfare Card(บัตรสวัสดิการแห่งรัฐ)

A government welfare program with eligibility criteria currently under criticism and review.

Thai Chuay Thai Plus 60 : 40(ไทยช่วยไทยพลัส 60 : 40)

A previous government project that faced registration and eligibility issues.