On December 26, Marasee Jairangsee, Secretary-General of the Social Security Office (SSO), announced an approved increase in child support benefits for insured individuals to encourage childbirth amid declining birth rates in Thailand. The initiative, directed by Labor Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn and supported by Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, seeks to address the economic implications of a shrinking workforce.
The Cabinet approved the adjustment on December 17, 2024, raising the monthly child support benefit from THB 800 to THB 1,000 per child for up to three children. Payments will begin in January 2025, following the announcement in the Royal Gazette. The benefits will be transferred via the PromptPay system at the end of each month, or earlier if the date falls on a weekend or holiday.
Additionally, the SSO will continue to provide a lump-sum childbirth benefit of THB 15,000 per delivery, with no limit on the number of claims, further easing financial burdens for insured individuals. The SSO estimates that 1.2 million children will benefit from the revised child support payments in January 2025.
The SSO reassured insured members of its commitment to enhancing welfare benefits and supporting families effectively.