About 20 million people who earn less than 100,000 baht a year are estimated to qualify for the government's welfare scheme for poverty through the national e-payment system, a senior finance official says.
Would-be recipients must have Thai nationality and be aged at least 18, said Fiscal Policy Office director-general Krisada Chinavicharana.
Claimants must register at Krungthai Bank, the Government Savings Bank or the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives from July 15 to Aug 15.
Registration will help the government direct welfare to those who are really in need instead of offering blanket welfare as it does now, Mr Krisada said.
Providing direct subsidies to low-earners and elderly people is part of the national e-payment scheme's five modules. The others are Any ID, which enables people, even those without a bank account, to transfer money and make payments using mobile phones and ID; expansion of electronic data capture machines to service e-payments; and an e-tax system that will allow the Revenue Department to plug all transactions into its data system to boost efficiency.
The government wants to transform Thailand from a cash-based society to a cashless one. It will also help the government tackle tax avoidance and direct subsidies to particular groups.
Mr Krisada said people would be required to register by filling out only a one-page form at the three banks, which will forward data through an electronic system to the Revenue Department.
The department will also link household registration from the Interior Ministry to integrate the database for social welfare to use for providing subsidies and welfare through the e-payment system, he said.