Over 20 million people have taken part in the latest instalments of the government's financial relief programmes in the first three days of September, says Pornchai Thiraveja, director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office.
Their participation has generated more than 5.73 billion baht for the economy, he said.
Mr Pornchai was referring to the fifth phase of the "Khon La Khrueng" co-payment scheme, the fifth roll-out of added benefits for state welfare cardholders and the third phase of aid intended for vulnerable individuals.
The government hopes the relief packages -- which will run until Oct 31 -- will help boost consumer spending amid a spike in living costs brought on by the war in Ukraine, which has complicated pandemic recovery efforts.
Those who have registered for the co-payment scheme will receive 800 baht until Oct 31 to subsidise the purchase of certain goods. Between Sept 1 and 3, he said, 11.68 million people used the co-payment scheme to subsidise their purchases, which totalled about 4.07 billion baht.
Meanwhile, 7.94 million state welfare cardholders spent 1.57 billion baht over the three-day period, while 434,952 vulnerable individuals who are eligible to receive government assistance -- which included senior citizens, disabled and/or other individuals who have no access to the internet -- spent about 85.95 million baht, he said.
He said individuals who wish to register for a state welfare card can do so starting today. Applications will close on Oct 19, and the results will be announced in January.
Mr Pornchai urged current state welfare cardholders to take part in the scheme to ensure they can access the aid to which they are entitled.
Those aged 18 and older who earn no more than 100,000 baht a year, have savings of no more than 100,000 baht, and live in a household with a combined annual income of less than 100,000 baht are eligible to apply, he said.
The number of subscribers is expected to increase from 13 million to 16 million, so 5.33 billion baht have been set aside to fund the scheme next year, he said.
Separately, the Department of Internal Trade has pledged to continue probing shops with the government's Blue Flag programme, which are suspected of violating the scheme's rules.
To date, 121 shops have been kicked out of the programme for violating the rules.
