The cabinet approved the second phase of the “digital wallet” scheme today, under which Thais who are 60 and older will receive 10,000 baht financial support, to be payable before Chinese New Year, or January 29.
Those who are eligible to receive the benefit are elderly people who have already registered through the “thang rath” application. The second phase of the scheme will cost the taxpayer 40 billion baht for four million elderly people.
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said that elderly people who do not have smart phones with which to register using the “thang rath” app can register through other means after New Year, with the exact date yet to be set.
The first phase of the “digital wallet” scheme was launched in late September. 14.5 million people with disabilities and state welfare card holders were each paid a 10,000 baht state benefit wired to their bank accounts.
Implementation of the second phase has been delayed due to financial constraints.
The majority of people in other age groups, totalling about 20 million, are yet to receive the financial support.
