Thai elderly people join social security programme

BANGKOK, December 8 (TNA) - A large number of old-age people turned up at Bangkok’s Social Security Office (SSO) Monday to apply for a membership of the government’s social security system. Monday was the last day the SSO allowed people aged over 60 to seek a membership of the system. The application period was set between December 9, 2014 and December 8, 2015 and each elder has five insurance plans to choose from. Each plan varies in benefits which cover financial supports for illness, disabilities and death, old-age allowance and one-time old-age pension. The SSO’s move was aimed to expand social protection for people aged 60 and over and to encourage saving among them. Siemgee Nilthongkum, director of the SSO’s Office of Stability Promotion for Informal Sector, said more than 100,000 elderly people had sought to become a member of the social security system during the first seven days of this month. She said the period would not be extended after the Monday deadline. According to the SSO, the scheme is based on contribution from a member and the government to finance the benefits. Under the first option, an insured person is required to pay a monthly contribution of 70 baht to the Social Security Fund and he or she is entitled to receive sickness, disability and death benefits. Under the second option, an insured person is required to pay a monthly contribution of 100 baht and he or she is entitled to all the benefits in option 1 plus an old-age pension. Under the third option, an insured person is required to pay a monthly contribution of 100 baht and he or she is entitled for a monthly old-age allowance after a certain amount of contribution is paid. The forth option plan covers benefits in case of sickness, disability and death plus a monthly old-age allowance and an insured person under the plan is required to pay a monthly contribution of 170 baht. The last option covers sickness, disability and death benefits, a monthly old-age allowance and an old-age pension and an insured person under the plan is required to pay a monthly contribution of 200 baht. People aged over 65 are only allowed to select the third option. (TNA)