Unregistered Bangkok residents unlikely to benefit from digital wallet

The distribution of 10,000 baht in digital wallet format, which is a key policy of the Pheu Thai Party and part of the urgent economic stimulus plan of Prime Minister Srettha, comes with several conditions. The digital money must be spent within six months on essential daily expenses unrelated to state welfare, in community stores and services within a 4-kilometre radius of the registered address. The digital wallet cannot be used to purchase items online.

It therefore seems likely that unregistered residents, especially the millions who work in Bangkok, may not be able to use this handout, or it may not be convenient for them to do so as they reside much further than within the required 4-kilometer radius.

The population statistics as of August 2023 give a total population of 66,056,867 and a Bangkok population of 5,476,145.

Unregistered residents, which the National Statistical…