Those who are receiving the child care allowance of 400 baht per month from the Social Security Fund (SSF) will now be paid a new rate of 600 baht a month.
The change took effect retroactively from January 2018.
Ananchai Uthaiphatthanachip, secretary-general of the Social Security Office (SSO), said the first payment at the new child allowance rate would be made on Jan 31, with the 2,400-baht compensation for last year also due on that date.
There are about 1.3 million children aged six and under whose guardians are eligible to receive this, he said.
Not only are children with Thai nationality eligible, but the children of migrant workers who are working here legally and are properly registered under the same social security programme are also entitled to receive the same child care allowance rate, he said.
To fund this change, the SSF will have to pay an extra 2.6 billion baht per year, he said.
The pension is normally transferred at the end of each month, as a form of financial assistance for parents who work and are insured under the social security system, he said.
Aside from being a form of aid for low-income workers to take better care of their children, the child care allowance is being offered as an incentive for people to have more children, he said.
The pension is available to up to three children per family, he said.
Thailand's birth rate is worryingly low and the SSF wants to encourage those who are insured under the social security programme to consider having more children, he said.
Labour Minister Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkeo said the SSO announced the change on Dec 25.
The main purpose of raising the allowance rate is to help working parents cope with the rising costs of living, said the minister.
