Social Security child allowance: how it differs from the newborn child support grant, and can you get both?

Once the baby arrives, talk of “money for the baby” comes at you from every direction. Relatives tell you to register at the subdistrict office (อบต.), a friend from work tells you to apply with Social Security, and after hearing it all you’re confused: is it the same money or not? And if you apply one way, will the other be cut off?

Here’s the answer: it’s two separate payments from two agencies, and many families can get both. This page focuses on the Social Security child allowance (เงินสงเคราะห์บุตร): who gets it, how much, how to apply, and when the benefit stops.

What the child allowance is, and how much you get each month

Quick Answer: It’s a benefit for Section 33 and Section 39 members of Social Security (ประกันสังคม). It pays 1,000 baht a month per child, for up to 3 children at a time, from birth until the child turns 6.

(For readers new to the system: Section 33 covers employees whose employer registers them, and Section 39 is for people who used to be under Section 33 and keep paying contributions themselves.)

The 1,000 baht is up from the previous 800 baht. It was announced in the Royal Gazette on 30 December 2024 and took effect on 1 January 2025. If you come across an older article that still says 800 baht, that’s the figure from before the increase.

Some examples to make it clear:

• 1 child aged 6 or under: 1,000 baht a month
• 3 children, all aged 6 or under: 3,000 baht a month
• When the eldest turns 6, the benefit for that child stops, and if you have a 4th child you can apply for them instead, because it counts up to 3 children “at a time”

Who qualifies, and how long do you need to have paid contributions?

Quick Answer: You need to be a Section 33 or Section 39 member who has paid contributions for at least 12 months within the 36 months before the month you become entitled, and the child must be your legal child.

This is different from the childbirth benefit, which only needs 5 months within 15 months. So it often happens that someone can already claim the childbirth benefit but doesn’t get the child allowance straight away, because they haven’t yet paid 12 months of contributions. (Read more about the childbirth benefit in Social Security childbirth benefit: can both mom and dad claim?)

A few more things worth knowing:

• Adopted children, or children given to someone else as an adopted child, are not covered by this benefit.
• If the father applies, he needs a marriage certificate or a document showing the child is legally his, such as a child legitimation registration.
• Section 40 members (the scheme for informal and self-employed workers) are only covered for child allowance under some options, and the conditions are different. Check with 1506 first to be sure.

Both parents have Social Security: can you claim twice?

Quick Answer: No. The law lets only one parent, father or mother, claim, unless they have registered a divorce or are living apart.

So who should apply? Think about these:

• Who has the more stable job. If the parent receiving it quits or stops being an insured person, the payments stop and you have to apply again under the other parent.
• Who has already paid 12 months of contributions. If mom has just started a new job but dad has already reached 12 months, dad can apply first.
• If mom plans to stop working after maternity leave, it may be better for dad to receive it, so the payments don’t get interrupted.

How it differs from the newborn child support grant

Quick Answer: The child allowance comes from Social Security and depends on your contributions. The newborn child support grant (เงินอุดหนุนเด็กแรกเกิด) comes from the Department of Children and Youth and uses household income criteria (under the current rules). They’re separate programs that you apply for separately.

	Child allowance	Newborn child support grant
Agency	Social Security Office	Department of Children and Youth
Amount	1,000 baht/month/child, up to 3 children	600 baht/month/child
Child’s age	Birth to 6 years	Birth to 6 years
Main conditions	Father or mother is a Section 33/39 member with contributions for 12 of 36 months	Child has Thai nationality, household income within the criteria
Looks at household income?	No	Yes (under current criteria)
Where to apply	e-Self Service at sso.go.th or a Social Security office	Subdistrict office (อบต.), municipality, district office, or the Ngoen Dek app (แอปเงินเด็ก)

For the details on the grant side, including the income criteria, who certifies you, and progress toward making it universal, go on to Newborn child support grant: who qualifies and where to register.

Can you really get both at the same time?

Quick Answer: Yes. The Government Information Center says parents already receiving the newborn child support grant can also get the child allowance if they meet the conditions for both.

At current rates, one child could get 600 + 1,000 = 1,600 baht a month in total until age 6, and it doesn’t count as double-claiming, because they’re from separate programs.

But you have to apply for each one separately. Applying with Social Security doesn’t automatically register you for the grant, and the same goes the other way around.

How to apply, and what you need

Quick Answer: Submit form SSO 2-01 (สปส. 2-01) online through e-Self Service or at a Social Security office, with your child’s birth certificate, your ID card and an account linked to PromptPay with your national ID number.

Get these documents ready:

• Application form SSO 2-01 (สปส. 2-01)
• A copy of your child’s birth certificate
• The insured person’s ID card
• The front page of your bank passbook, or PromptPay linked to your national ID number
• Marriage certificate or child legitimation document (if the father applies)

To apply online: go to sso.go.th and log in, choose e-Self Service, choose to claim benefits, then choose child allowance. Fill in the details and upload your documents.

A little tip: if you’re already claiming the childbirth benefit, apply for the child allowance at the same time, in one go. It uses the same set of documents and saves a lot of time.

Once approved, the money is transferred into your PromptPay account at the end of every month. If that falls on a holiday, it’s paid early.

When does the child allowance stop?

Quick Answer: When the child turns 6, when the child is given to someone else as an adopted child, if the child dies, or when the person receiving the benefit stops being an insured person.

That last one is where moms slip up most often. For example, a mom receiving the benefit quits to look after her child full time and doesn’t keep paying contributions, and the money stops too. Before you hand in your resignation, call 1506 and ask about these options first:

• Sign up as a Section 39 member and keep paying contributions yourself
• Or, if dad is an insured person who meets the conditions, have dad claim the benefit instead

If you’re thinking of starting a small business at home after leaving your job, you might also like to read Time management for moms running a business.

If I apply late, do I get back payments?

Quick Answer: Apply as soon as possible after you get the birth certificate. If you’ve already applied late, call 1506 to ask how far back you’ll be paid, because it depends on each person’s entitlement date and application date.

Personally, we’d keep it simple: assume payments count from the day you apply, and apply quickly, so no money slips through the cracks for you to regret later.

Benefit amounts can change under ministerial regulations, so check again at sso.go.th or on the 1506 hotline before you apply. Take it one step at a time. A thousand baht a month really does help with the diaper bill.