30% of poor ‘miss out on child support’

The state must expand the financial support it offers poor parents to cover all of their offspring as current screening protocols are overly restrictive and eliminate some of those in need from the eligibility list, the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) says.

The institute’s director for equal development, Somchai Jitsuchon, downplayed concern that greater coverage would be overly burdensome on the state coffers. He said the government is duty-bound to invest in future generations, a mandate made more urgent by Thailand’s greying society.

Citing the findings of a recent study, he said about 30% of poor people are missing out on aid they should be entitled to.

He said this problem keeps cropping up regardless of how well the eligibility criteria is designed due to the rigorous screening methods deployed.

As a result, many children from greatly impoverished families get “screened out” of the system, Mr Somchai said.

If the government wants to make sure that welfare entitlements reach all low-income parents, coverage must be broadened, he said.

As many as 32 countries around the world have already done this, he added.

Mr Somchai said this would inevitably ramp up the government’s spending, hence the backlash.

Yet it could be viewed positively given the high demand from middle-class customers to have their goods delivered to their homes, he said. They can also make use of the country’s “tax return” policy.

These groups funnel large sums to government coffers in the form of value-added tax when they shop, meaning they deserve the right to receive the health benefits of the programme, Mr Somchai said.

He said the proposed change would not eat into the government’s funds too much as the birth rate in Thailand is still considered low.

Mr Somchai said the authorities should put more weight into investing in children but that the decision would depend on their priorities.

The researcher also wants the government to increase the age range of kids who are eligible to receive financial aid.

Parents of newborns can receive support until the toddlers are three years old but age six would be better, he said.