BANGKOK, 1st June 2017 (NNT) - As many as 14 million low-income earners have registered with the Ministry of Finance in a social welfare program designed to improve their lives.

Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong said today the profiles of those registering with the program would be submitted to the Ministry of the Interior for verification. Apisak said the program has received a great deal of attention as expected.

Relevant organizations overseen by the Ministry of the Interior including the Revenue Department and the Department of Land will inspect the applicants’ savings accounts and other assets to ensure that they really are low-income earners.

The applicants that meet the requirements will be given social welfare cards in September; the cards can be used in the following month.

Among those joining the program, people who make less than 30,000 baht a year will be entitled to discounts on water and electricity charges as well as transportation fares.

Those who qualify for the 10,000 baht per annum aid program, will be paid monthly via a Prompt Pay account. The Finance Ministry noted that certain rules have been laid down to ensure that low-income earners live within their means and make an effort to improve their own lives. By Nuppol Suvansombut and Thammarat Thadaphrom.

Source: http://thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNSOC6006010010031

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