Digital Wallet Scheme (10,000 Baht Digital Wallet Scheme)
The Digital Wallet Scheme was the Thai government's flagship one-time cash handout, giving eligible Thai citizens aged 16 and older a 10,000 baht (about US$275-300) payment intended to stimulate the economy after COVID-19. It was administered by the Ministry of Finance and distributed via PromptPay-linked bank accounts (originally envisioned as a closed-loop 'digital wallet' app with spending restrictions). It was funded entirely through Thailand's national fiscal budget (2024 and 2025) plus a contribution from the state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. Only two of three planned phases (welfare card holders/disabled, then seniors 60+) were completed before the program was officially shelved in mid-2025 due to economic and fiscal pressures.
Thailand, National cash handout, PromptPay, Economic stimulus, Pheu Thai flagship policy, Near-universal digital cash transfer, Southeast Asia
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Government of Thailand, Ministry of Finance
- City
- Bangkok
- Country
- Thailand
Contact
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 4,000,000
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Total Amount
- 10,000
- Avg. Per Month
- 909.09
- Payment frequency
- Lump Sum
- How long the program lasts
- 11 months
- Distribution Type
- Direct bank transfer via PromptPay, originally designed as a closed-loop digital wallet app (Thang Rath) with restricted spending, later phases paid as unrestricted direct cash transfers to linked bank accounts
- Benefit details
The scheme was originally designed as a true closed-loop digital currency: funds had to be spent within 6 months, only within the recipient's registered district (originally within a 4km radius), at participating small businesses, and could not be used for 18 excluded categories (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, fuel, gold, gems, lottery tickets, online purchases, etc.). In practice, the government pivoted to direct, unrestricted PromptPay bank transfers for the phases that were actually completed. Phase 1 (welfare card holders and people with disabilities, ~145.55 billion baht) paid out from September 25, 2024. Phase 2 (citizens aged 60+, ~40 billion baht) paid out in January 2025. Phase 3, aimed at citizens aged 16-20 with a 27 billion baht budget, was postponed in May 2025 and the remaining ~157 billion baht was redirected to other stimulus measures; the scheme was declared effectively shelved by August 2025 after distributing roughly 185 billion baht in total (well short of the 450-500 billion baht originally planned for up to 45-50 million people).
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Open to Thai citizens who were at least 16 years old by September 30, 2024, with annual income below 840,000 baht (roughly 70,000 baht/month) and bank balances (current, savings, fixed deposit) below 500,000 baht as of March 31, 2025. Applicants could not be currently incarcerated or have certain fraud records; shop owners were also excluded from receiving (though eligible to register as participating merchants). Registration required a smartphone with the Thang Rath app or in-person registration at 7-Eleven, Thailand Post, Boonterm kiosks, or government service points. Welfare card holders and people with disabilities were prioritized for the first distribution round; adults 60 and older were prioritized for the second round.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 16
- Language
- Thai
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $840,000
- Asset / net worth limit
- $500,000
- Banked status
- Banked
Citizenship
- Citizenship / immigration status
- Citizen
Geography
- Countries covered
- Thailand
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Application Process
- How to apply
Eligible individuals registered online through the government's Thang Rath ('Path of the Nation') app between August 1 and September 15, 2024 (with a second window through October 15, 2024 for those unable to register online, via 7-Eleven, Thailand Post offices, Boonterm kiosks, government service kiosks, or the ThaID app). Businesses wishing to accept digital wallet payments registered separately starting October 1, 2024. Roughly 36 million people registered against a target of 45 million.
- Selection process
Eligibility (age, income, and bank-balance thresholds) was verified against government and banking records during registration. Distribution was staggered by phase and priority group: Phase 1 covered state welfare card holders and people with disabilities (paid between September 25-30, 2024, staggered by welfare card number to avoid overwhelming the banking system); Phase 2 covered citizens aged 60 and above (paid via PromptPay starting January 2025); a planned Phase 3 for citizens aged 16-20 was never carried out.
