Elderly to get living subsidy via system

The Comptroller-General’s Department will begin paying a living allowance for the elderly through the national e-payment system in October.

The e-payment will start as a pilot project for those aged 60 and over who live in Bangkok and Pattaya in June, said Oranuch Vainusit, an adviser for fiscal and financial system development to the department.

The government pays a living allowance to the elderly through local administrative organisations now, but the department will take responsibility for such payments through the national e-payment system.

The government hopes using the e-payment system will help reduce fraud and enhance customer convenience.

All elderly Thai citizens are entitled to a progressive living allowance, with 600 baht paid to those aged 60-69, 700 baht to those aged 70-79, 800 baht to those aged 80-89, and 1,000 baht to those aged 90 and older. However, the Finance Ministry is mulling methods to raise the living allowance to 1,200-1,500 baht per person per month to help the elderly live more comfortably.

Ms Oranuch said for elderly who still prefer obtaining the living allowance as cash through local administrative organisations, because it is inconvenient for them to withdraw money at banks, can inform state officials of their preference.

Thailand has 10 million elderly, with 8 million of them receiving the living allowance while 2 million have forgone their right to receive the subsidy.

The government earmarks around 60 billion baht a year for the living allowance for the elderly.