BANGKOK, Thailand – The government has approved a welfare top-up scheme to ease living costs and stimulate the economy amid slowing growth. The scheme, proposed by the Ministry of Finance, was approved during the Cabinet’s first meeting of 2025, which was chaired by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
The approval will provide an additional 850 baht per month to each of the 13.4 million State Welfare Card holders for two months, covering November and December 2025. In total, cardholders will receive 1,700 baht extra support, in addition to their regular 300-baht monthly allowance. The funds can be used to purchase daily necessities, education supplies, and agricultural materials at Blue Flag low-price shops and other stores designated by the Ministry of Commerce.
The measure will be funded through the government’s central emergency reserve budget for fiscal year 2025, with a total of 22.78 billion baht allocated to the Ministry of Finance for disbursement.
Authorities explained that the top-up is aimed at supporting vulnerable households, while also boosting consumption and circulation of money in the economy at the end of the year. Authorities expect the scheme to help increase GDP growth by 0.07–0.08 percent.
The decision reflects both the government’s priority to ease public financial burden and its broader strategy to stimulate economic activity. (NNT)
