General News
Disability pay to start next April
People who have registered their disabilities with authorities will be eligible to receive a monthly subsistence allowance of 500 baht starting in April next year, Nualphan Lamsam, the assistant to Social Development and Human Security Minister Issara Somchai, said on Tuesday.
Mrs Nuamphan said that to mark the United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons on Dec 3, the Social Development and Human Security Ministry will organise a grand event and start to register disabled people throughout the country who are not altready registered.
The main event will be held at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thanee, she said.
Mrs Nualphan said that with cooperation from the Interior and Public Health ministries, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Pattaya City, registration of disabled persons will be carried out at social development and human security offices throughout the country from Dec 3 to Dec 30.
On being registered, the disabled will be issued an identity card.
All disability card holders will be eligible for a 500 baht monthly allowance starting in April, to improve their quality of life, Mrs Nualphan said.
Earlier this month, the Social Development and Human Security Ministry announced that elderly people with disabilities will receive altogether 1,000 baht per month - a 500 baht disability payment and 500 baht age allowance.
People aged over 60 with disabilities currently have to choose between receiving the 500 baht financial age allowance or the disabled allowance, but not both.
``These people have enough difficulties in their lives. Their financial assistance should not be limited to being forced to choose only one allowance or the other,'' the minster said.
Senior citizens with disabilities deserved to get both allowances, Mr Issara said.
A National Statistical Office survey in 2007 concluded there were around 1.9 million people with disabilities.
Of these, about 853,300 have already registered with the ministry and hold an identity card for people with disabilities. About 230,000 of them were over 60 and now eligible for the ministry's new double allowance scheme, which would pay them 1,000 baht a month.
Additional Information
Country: Thailand
Website: http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/160950/disability-pay-to-start -april-next-year
Email: N/A
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Source: Email from: MORI, Soya
When: 30/11/2009
