Cabinet to review Thais Help Thais Plus extension on September 22 as spending hits 161.56bn baht

Thailand’s Finance Ministry is preparing to submit an extension of the Thais Help Thais Plus co-payment scheme for Cabinet consideration on September 22, 2026, after cumulative spending reached 161.56 billion baht, deputy government spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana said on Sunday (September 20). Any extension and its terms still require Cabinet approval, with the current phase due to end on September 30.

Thais Help Thais Plus extension still needs Cabinet approval

For the proposed Thais Help Thais Plus extension, the Finance Ministry will present the scheme’s performance and related details to the Cabinet on Tuesday (September 22). Lalida said any changes to the duration, funding, entitlements or conditions would depend on the Cabinet’s decision.

Lalida said official details of any Thais Help Thais Plus extension would be announced as soon as possible. The government urged the public to follow official channels and disregard claims that the next phase had already been approved before a Cabinet resolution.

Thais Help Thais Plus spending totals 161.56 billion baht

Lalida’s update on Thais Help Thais Plus put cumulative spending at 161,555.6 million baht as of 11pm on September 18, 2026, comprising government co-payments of 92,900.7 million baht and consumer contributions of 68,654.9 million baht.

Spending under Thais Help Thais Plus through regular participating shops totalled 155,335.8 million baht by the September 18 cut-off, while food-delivery transactions accounted for 6,219.8 million baht, according to Lalida.

A total of 26,040,623 people had been granted entitlements under Thais Help Thais Plus and 1,192,528 merchants had passed verification as of September 18, Lalida reported.

Lalida links co-payments to household and business support

Lalida described Thais Help Thais Plus as a mechanism that combines government funding with consumers’ purchasing power and channels revenue to shops, small businesses and service providers. She said the measure helped money circulate while households and businesses faced higher energy and living costs.

“Spending of more than 161 billion baht shows that assistance is being used for everyday goods and services. Consumers have contributed more than 68.6 billion baht, allowing government funds to generate greater purchasing power and merchant income. The measure therefore eases the burden on the public while supporting grassroots economic activity,” Lalida said of Thais Help Thais Plus.

Lalida cited Fitch Ratings’ assessment that higher oil prices affect inflation, purchasing power and business costs. She also described consumption and government measures as supporting Thailand’s economy amid global economic volatility.

“The government prioritises measures that provide targeted help and generate real economic activity,” Lalida said. “Thais Help Thais Plus therefore addresses both sides by easing people’s living costs and supporting business income. The recorded spending demonstrates purchasing power flowing into the grassroots economy.”

Current Thais Help Thais Plus benefits expire on September 30

Under the current Thais Help Thais Plus rules, eligible participants can use their entitlements until September 30, 2026. The government covers 60% of eligible spending, capped at 200 baht per person per day and 1,000 baht per person per month. Unused monthly entitlements cannot be carried forward to the following month.