Bangkok: The Ministry of Finance is set to revise the criteria for the 'Poverty Alleviation Card' in 2026, allowing for debt relief for farmers with outstanding debts exceeding 100,000 baht without affecting their eligibility for the program. This proposal is slated for submission to the Cabinet, with results expected to be announced by July 17th.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Vinit Visetsuwannapoom, Director of the Fiscal Policy Office and spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, disclosed details from the 8th meeting of the Committee on Public-Private Partnership for the Grassroots Economy and Society. The meeting reviewed preliminary outcomes of the 2026 State Welfare Registration Project, which aims to expand support to vulnerable individuals identified by the Ministry of Interior. These individuals, identified during the registration period from June 4-21, 2026, number 5,383,393 and will undergo eligibility verification. Additionally, eligibility criteria for parents of income earners, who have already benefited from tax deductions, will not be applicable for the 2026 project.

The meeting also discussed the Bank of Thailand's recommendation, submitted to the Cabinet on June 2, 2026, to reconsider the eligibility criteria for loans totaling 100,000 baht. Agricultural loans are excluded from the assessment due to their seasonal nature and use in disaster mitigation, which can obscure the borrower's credit access capabilities. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance is contemplating a proposal to allow current State Welfare Cardholders, who do not qualify for the 2026 program, to participate in the Thai Help Thai Plus (60/40) initiative for two months, from August 1 to September 30, 2026. This consideration comes as these individuals were previously ineligible for the program. The next phase involves presenting these proposals to the Cabinet for approval before the official announcement of eligible recipients on July 17, 2026.