Bangkok: The Commerce Ministry is assisting individuals who have lost their state welfare benefits by offering free nationwide checks of shareholdings and director status, and encouraging them to file appeals. The Ministry has directed support for citizens failing to meet the eligibility criteria for state welfare benefits, specifically targeting those listed as shareholders, directors, or partners in partnerships or companies.
According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Business Development and provincial commerce offices are prepared to aid citizens ineligible for the state welfare card, especially those identified as shareholders, directors, or partners. Initially, 139,804 individuals applying for state welfare benefits were identified as partners, directors, and shareholders. This group includes 41,007 individuals listed as partners in partnerships and 98,797 individuals listed as directors and shareholders in limited companies across the country. The Ministry is facilitating data verification for these citizens and will send letters to assist those requesting verification in filing appeals.
Mr. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, revealed that after the Ministry of Finance announced on July 17, 2026, the eligibility criteria for the 2026 State Welfare Card project, 9,314,253 individuals did not meet the criteria. Many ineligible cases were due to names appearing as partners, directors, or shareholders in partnerships or companies. He has instructed officials nationwide to urgently assist this group of ineligible individuals.
Mr. Poonpong further noted that initial checks from the Department's business database, as of June 24, 2026, highlighted 139,804 applicants for the 2026 State Welfare Registration Project as partners, directors, or shareholders in partnerships or companies. This data has been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for further evaluation.
Following the Ministry of Finance's announcement of the 9.51 million eligible individuals and the 9.31 million ineligible individuals, those who did not meet the criteria are allowed to appeal between July 17-31, 2026. Discussions have been held with provincial commerce offices to facilitate the process and provide services for individuals to check their information. Individuals can check their information or authorize someone else to do so, with an authorization form stating "for the purpose of verifying eligibility under the State Welfare Registration Project," including the national identification number of the individual.
Those seeking to review their information can contact central offices, including the Department of Business Development and Regional Business Development Offices, or regional offices such as Provincial Commerce Offices nationwide. For further details, individuals can contact the Department of Business Development Call Center at 1570.
The Ministry of Commerce is committed to supporting citizens in verifying their listing as partners, directors, and shareholders to aid their appeals. Officials have been tasked to provide care and assistance to all citizens, particularly those genuinely in need of welfare and government assistance, Mr. Poonpong concluded.