Khon Kaen Residents Await ‘Khon Khrueng Plus’ as Government Confirms 4,000 Baht Monthly Aid Starting June 2025

The Thai government is preparing to launch a new round of the Khon La Khrueng Plus (Let’s Go Halves Plus) co-payment scheme, with registration set to open in May 2026 and spending expected to begin in June. This initiative, part of the broader Thai Chuay Thai Plus program, aims to alleviate cost-of-living pressures by providing monthly financial support to eligible citizens.

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas confirmed on April 24, 2026, that registration for the scheme will open in May, with spending to commence in June. Under the program, the government will cover 60% of eligible spending, while participants will pay the remaining 40%. The support will be delivered monthly at 1,000 baht per person for four consecutive months, totaling 4,000 baht per recipient.

The scheme will be implemented under the Thai Chuay Thai Plus framework, which was initially outlined by Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Paradorn Prissananantakul, as following a 60:40 cost-sharing model. Eligibility is expected to include individuals aged 18 or above, consistent with previous iterations of the Khon La Khrueng program, although the final number of recipients remains under consideration and will depend on available budget allocations.

Registration will primarily be conducted through the Paotang application, maintaining the same format used in earlier phases. Officials have indicated that the program will be linked with the state welfare card system to streamline distribution and ensure accurate targeting of beneficiaries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas also announced that the government will maintain the value-added tax (VAT) rate at 7% through September 2027 to avoid exacerbating living-cost pressures amid ongoing economic uncertainty.

The Finance Ministry is concurrently preparing contingency funding options, including potential emergency borrowing measures between April and September 2026, with a ceiling of up to 500 billion baht, to cushion the economy against potential spillover effects from regional conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, which could impact inflation and economic growth.

While the broad timeline — registration in May and launch on June 1 — has been confirmed, finer details such as the final budget, subsidy amount and exact number of recipients are still pending budget clearance. Officials have stated that the scheme’s scale will depend on the fiscal space ultimately made available, with considerations underway for scenarios involving 20 million or 30 million participants.

Political figures, including Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party and Deputy Prime Minister, have affirmed that Khon La Khrueng Plus Phase 2 is definitely proceeding, reinforcing government commitment to the initiative as a frontline tool for short-term relief during periods of rising energy costs and consumer prices.