Thailand's Child Support Grant for Newborns: Who Qualifies, Where to Register, and What Gets Applications Sent Back

600 baht a month does not sound like much, but once you turn it into diapers or milk each month, many families say it really helps. The headache is not being sure whether you qualify, not knowing where to apply, and then having your application sent back because one document was missing, so you have to carry your little one back to start over.

We will walk through it one step at a time: the criteria in use as of September 2026, how to apply, where documents tend to fail, and what is about to change in fiscal year 2027, so you can get it through in one go.

What is the newborn child support grant, and how much is it?

Quick Answer: It is childcare support from the Department of Children and Youth, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. It pays 600 baht a month per child until the child turns 6.

• Paid monthly, usually around the 10th of the month (moved earlier if it falls on a holiday)
• It is a grant, not a loan, so nothing is paid back
• If you have several eligible children, apply separately for each one

Who qualifies now, and where does the “universal” plan stand?

Quick Answer: As of September 2026, the criteria still require an average household income of no more than 100,000 baht per person per year. A universal version has been approved by the national child board but is still waiting for the Cabinet.

Current criteria

• The child is a Thai national
• Not living in a state or private care institution
• In a household with an average income of no more than 100,000 baht per person per year (add up the income of everyone in the household, then divide by the number of members)

What is about to change On 14 July 2026, the National Child and Youth Development Committee approved paying the 600-baht grant universally for children aged 0 to 6, with no need to prove income, starting in fiscal year 2027 (from 1 October 2026), and removing the step of publicly posting the list of names so money arrives faster.

But this proposal still has to pass the Cabinet first. As of writing, we have not found an announcement that the Cabinet has approved it. If your household income is above the old threshold, do not give up on it yet. Ask your Subdistrict Administrative Organization (อบต.), municipality, or the 1300 hotline what the latest criteria are. We will update this page once there is an official announcement.

Where do I register, and can I apply online?

Quick Answer: You can apply at the local government office in the area where your child actually lives, or through the Ngern Dek (เงินเด็ก) app.

Area	Where to apply
Bangkok	District office (สำนักงานเขต)
Pattaya	Pattaya City Hall
Other provinces	Subdistrict Administrative Organization (อบต.) or municipality (เทศบาล)
Online	Ngern Dek (เงินเด็ก) app (identity verification required first)

The Government Public Relations Department states that you apply in the area where the child actually lives, which does not have to match your house registration. That makes things easy for families who moved for work. For example, if your house registration is in Isan (northeast Thailand) but you are raising your child in Chiang Mai, you can apply at the Subdistrict Administrative Organization or municipality in Chiang Mai.

But you need your child’s birth certificate in hand first. If you have not registered the birth yet, read Registering your baby’s birth: documents to prepare, then come back to this.

What documents do I need?

Quick Answer: Application form DR.01, household status certification form DR.02, ID card, your child’s birth certificate, the pink book, salary certificates for household members with regular income, and the ID cards of 2 certifiers.

1. Form DR.01 (ดร.01): the registration application form
2. Form DR.02 (ดร.02): household status certification (listing every member and their income)
3. Copy of the ID card of the applicant
4. Copy of your child’s birth certificate
5. Copy of the Mother and Child Health Handbook (the pink book, สมุดสีชมพู)
6. Salary certificate or payslip for household members with regular income, such as civil servants, state enterprise employees and company employees
7. Copy of the civil servant card or a document showing the position of both certifiers
8. Account to receive payment: Thai applicants receive money through a PromptPay account linked to their ID card number, while applicants without Thai nationality must attach a copy of the bank book page of a designated bank

The forms are updated from time to time, so asking for the latest version from the office where you will apply is the safest bet.

What most often gets applications sent back?

Quick Answer: Mostly certifiers who do not hold the required positions, incomplete income for household members, a missing salary certificate, and a PromptPay account not linked to the ID card number.

Going through the conditions on forms DR.01 and DR.02, these are the common stumbling points:

• Certifiers not in the right position: certifier 1 must be a village health volunteer (อสม.) or equivalent in the area. Certifier 2 must be a community leader, such as a kamnan (subdistrict head) or village head, or a government officer, such as a public health officer or local government officer, and must not be the same person as the officer receiving the registration.
• Forgetting to attach the certifiers’ cards: you got the signatures but did not attach a copy of their card or a document showing their position.
• Incomplete members or income: you must list everyone who actually lives together and each person’s income. If the information does not match government databases, it may be checked further.
• Missing salary certificate for members with regular jobs.
• PromptPay not linked to the ID card number: the money cannot be transferred even after approval. Check with your bank before applying.
• Names that do not match across documents: for example, the name on the birth certificate, ID card and form spelled differently. Check that every document matches before applying.

How long does it take, and is it paid retroactively?

Quick Answer: Checking usually takes around 3 to 6 months. Once approved, you get back payments from the month you registered, not from the month your child was born.

The Government Public Relations Department states that the Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security will check eligibility within 3 to 6 months. Put simply, if you apply 3 months late, that is 1,800 baht simply lost. As soon as you have the birth certificate, apply right away.

Check status in the Ngern Dek (เงินเด็ก) app, the Tang Rat (ทางรัฐ) app, or the Department of Children and Youth website. If there is a problem, call the 1300 hotline, available 24 hours.

How is it different from the Social Security child allowance?

Quick Answer: They are separate programs, and you can receive both at the same time if you meet the conditions for both. The Social Security Fund (ประกันสังคม) child allowance is currently 1,000 baht a month per child, for insured persons under Sections 33 and 39.

	Newborn child support grant	Child allowance (Social Security)
Agency	Department of Children and Youth	Social Security Office
Amount	600 baht/month	1,000 baht/month per child, up to 3 children
Child’s age	0 to 6 years	0 to 6 years
Main condition	Household income (under current criteria)	Insured under Section 33 or 39, with at least 12 months of contributions within 36 months
Where to apply	อบต., municipality, district office, Ngern Dek app	Social Security Office (ask about channels at the 1506 hotline)

If you are a mom working online or freelancing and are interested in income and benefits, take a look at our Income Finder for moms. And for an overview of everything to do in the early days, read our guide to your baby’s first 3 months.

It really is a lot of paperwork, but you do it once and it lasts for years. Prepare one thing at a time, even while your baby naps.