Cabinet approves Thais Help Thais Plus extension to November
Thailand extends Thais Help Thais Plus for October-November with a THB1,000 subsidy, as scheme spending reaches THB163.6 billion.
Thailand’s Cabinet has extended the Thais Help Thais Plus 60/40 co-payment scheme from October 1 to November 30, 2026, giving eligible participants up to THB1,000 in additional state support.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas announced the decision on Tuesday (September 22). The THB43 billion package will draw on THB44 billion remaining under the energy-crisis borrowing decree, aiming to ease living costs and support household spending.
The extension comes as Finance Ministry figures show cumulative spending under the existing programme reached THB163.627 billion by September 20, combining government subsidies and participants’ own payments.
THB1,000 covers the entire two-month extension
The scheme retains its 60/40 arrangement, with the government covering 60% of eligible purchases and participants paying the remaining 40%. Government support is capped at THB200 per person per day. The additional THB1,000 allowance covers the entire two-month extension, rather than being a monthly entitlement.
The extension covers existing participants and people who did not qualify for the 2026 state welfare card programme. Participants must be Thai nationals aged at least 18, hold a national identity card and meet requirements concerning suspension or repayment orders under earlier co-payment schemes.
Eligible users must confirm participation through Paotang from October 1-15. Merchants can confirm through Tung Ngern from October 1 to November 30. Spending hours are 6am to 11pm at participating shops and 6am to 9pm for orders through approved food-delivery platforms.
October top-up for welfare cardholders
Separately, eligible state welfare cardholders will receive an additional THB700 in October, raising their shopping allowance from THB300 to THB1,000. They must have qualified under the 2026 registration programme before October 1.
More than 25.8 million people have used the scheme
The Finance Ministry’s September 20 update recorded 25,807,332 people who had used their benefits since spending began on June 1. Government contributions totalled THB94.072 billion, while participants paid THB69.555 billion. The average transaction value was THB126.
A total of 26,040,623 people had successfully registered and received approval against the programme’s allocation of 30 million places. They included 18,900,479 previous participants in Khon La Khrueng Plus and 7,140,144 new registrants.
Merchant registrations reached 1,197,293, of which 1,192,528 had passed verification. Among verified businesses, 1,101,564 were ready to accept payments, while 90,964 were awaiting acceptance of the terms and conditions.
Food and drink account for about half of spending
Restaurants and beverage outlets recorded THB81.184 billion in spending, accounting for approximately half of the total. General shops and other businesses received THB38.205 billion, while Blue Flag shops recorded THB36.678 billion.
Food-delivery spending, available under the scheme since June 15, reached THB6,328.5 million. This comprised THB3,569.9 million in government contributions and THB2,758.6 million paid by customers.
LINE MAN accounted for THB3,327.5 million, or approximately 53% of delivery spending, followed by GrabFood with THB2,871.5 million, or 45%. ShopeeFood recorded THB125.2 million and Robinhood THB4.3 million.
