Authorities are now working on details and timing of the “Thai Help Thai Plus” programme to ease citizens’ financial burden, Mr Paradorn said yesterday (Apr 23).
He said the government’s contribution would be disbursed in phases, although the timeline is still being finalised.
Eligibility criteria will remain unchanged, requiring participants to be at least 18 years old, while the total number of beneficiaries will depend on available funding, reports the Bangkok Post.
Once the programme begins, beneficiaries will be able to purchase goods at a discount at participating stores using their welfare cards.
Funding sources for the programme may include the central budget as well as a budget reallocation bill expected to be introduced in June, according to the minister.
The previous Khon La Khrueng Plus co-payment scheme allocated between B2,000 and B2,400 per person, with spending eligible under the 50:50 arrangement capped at B200 a day. As well, welfare cardholders received a B1,700 top-up to their existing B300 monthly allowances.
The programme that ended on Dec 31 proved highly successful, with more than 9.2 million participants fully using their allotted benefits, officials said.
Spending under the scheme reached B84.2 billion, according to the Ministry of Finance.