Child welfare payments receive a boost

The cabinet has approved a Ministry of Labour proposal to increase monthly child support grants from 400 baht to 600 baht per child for those insured under the Social Security Office (SSO), says government spokesperson Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

Those eligible will receive the grant until the child reaches six years of age. The primary objective of the move, said Lt Gen Sansern, is to ensure that Thai children receive decent care that will lead to highquality development. The grant can be backdated to Jan 1, 2018.

He added that the approved Ministry of Labour regulation will also increase the maximum number of children eligible to receive support per grantee from two to three. This can be backdated to Oct 20, 2015.

Lt Gen Sansern said the rise shows that the government is updating its support package in accordance with current economic conditions.

He said the scheme will also help the government achieve its goal of boosting the size of its workforce with Thailand en route to becoming an ageing society. By 2021, 20% of the Thai population will be aged 60 or older.

“Today, anybody who is ready to have a child is encouraged to do so,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Social Security Office’s Secretariat Suradej Waleeittikul said apart from this grant, those insured under the SSO can also register for another child support grant scheme under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security that provides subsidies for newborn babies in households with a monthly income per capita of less than 3,000 baht.

This policy provides a monthly allowance of 600 baht for one year for each newborn baby from an eligible family born between October 2015 and September 2016, with the coverage lasting until the child reaches three years of age.