Social Security and Its Benefits
In Thailand, Social Security Office was designated by the government to impose such scheme to ensure that proper social security assistance is provided to its members. The Social Security Scheme is operated according to the Social Security Act B.E 2533 (A.D. 1990) and its Amendment .E. 2537 (A.D. 1994) and B.E. 2542 (A.D. 1999). The Office is responsible to provide financial assistance to its members during the occurrence of sickness, maternity, invalidity, old age and unemployment, death, the provision of medical care and the provision of child allowance.
Its members, so called insured person s are the employees who started working at the age of not under fifteen and not over sixty years old in the company with 1 or more employees. The employers with 1 or more employees have
to submit the Registration Form within 30 days since the employee started working. In case the number of employees increased, the employer will submit for new Employee Registration Form if he or she has not received social security card before. Thus, the employers can submit the Registration Form by themselves or by his agent or any authorized person. Once the employee’s name has been registered, he can receive the Social Security Card within more or less 5 days after registration. The Social Security Office will send the Social Security Card to him so that he can show it when he claim benefits at the Social Security Office and to use it when they fill up the contribution form
for recording of contribution payment. Thus, one insured person can only have one Social Security Card although he may change job in the future. He will also receive the Medical Card after the registration and having paid contribution for 3 months. With this, he must select a hospital where he prefers to claim medical treatment benefits. Once the SSO sent him the Medical Card, he can receive free medical treatment at the registered hospital indicated in the medical card.
The contribution or the Social Security Fund must be submitted and paid to the Social Security Office within the 29th of each following month. To pay the contribution, employers must deduct a partial amount to be paid from employee’s salary and pay their part at the same amount of employee’s contribution.
The following are the benefits that a registered employee can claim:
1. Sickness or Injuries benefits consist of free medical treatment at the registered hospital and cash benefits due to sick leave. This can be claimed if the contribution is paid for not less than 3 months within 15th months before the date of receiving the medical treatment.
2. Maternity Benefits consist of cash or lump sum benefit for delivery. This can be claimed if the contribution is paid for not less than 7 months within 15 months before the date of confinement. The Social Security Office will pay maternity benefits at the rate of 50% of wages or salaries for 90 days.
3. Invalidity Benefits consist of free medical treatment and cash benefit.
4. Death Benefits consist of funeral grant and survivors allowance. This can be claimed if the contribution is paid for not less than 1 month within 6 months before death.
5. Child Allowance consists of monthly allowance paid to the first two children of the insured person below 6 years of age. This can be claimed if the contribution is paid for not less than 12 months within 36 months before the
month of receiving benefits.
6. Old – Age Benefits consist of lump sum amount or pension that an insured person will receive upon reaching the old age. This can be claimed if the contribution is paid for not less than 180 months, 55 years of age and cessation of being an insured person.
7. Unemployment benefits. Only private sector employees under Social Security Fund can claim cash benefits if the contribution is paid for not less than 6 months within 15 months before unemployment:
– For unemployment resulted from laid-off, the insured person will receive 50% of
wages up to 180 days within 1 year
– For unemployment resulted from voluntary resignation, the insured person will
receive 30% of wages up to 90 days within 1 year.