Welfare

"Social Security" employees, "foreign workers" in Thailand check benefits protection in 7 cases

Blog: "Social Security" employees, "foreign workers" in Thailand check benefits protection in 7 cases

"Social Security" supports employee welfare and benefits. Therefore, "foreign workers" are protected in a total of 7 cases, but must be legally registered. "Foreign workers" who come to work in Thailand will receive protection according to basic human rights principles like Thai insured people. Because everyone has the same important role in driving the economy. By "Social Security" ready to take care of welfare - benefits. There are 3 groups of "foreign workers" but must be legally registered. 

 

"Social Security" will cover 7 cases for "foreign workers" as follows: 

• In case of childbirth 

• In the case of child support 

• In case of illness or danger from work 

• In the case of disability 

• In the case of old age 

• Unemployment 

• In case of death 

 

Protection conditions "Foreign workers" 

Foreign workers who wish to register in the social security system must have the following qualifications: 

• Must be a worker with a passport. or documents showing representative passport (Passport) and work permit (Work permit) 

• Must pass nationality verification. with a temporary passport (Temporary Passport) or certificate of identity and work permit (Work permit) 

• If you are a foreign worker who fled to Thailand but received a waiver to be able to work temporarily. When sick or are injured at work, must immediately notify the Social Security officer in order for the employer to pay compensation. which will receive the same amount as Thai workers 

In addition, there are cases where foreigners are not required to register with "Social security" refers to foreigners who are employees of farming, fishing, forestry, animal husbandry, hawking, and stall trading. which did not use employees throughout the year or has a temporary nature of work 

 

Case 1: Hospital Services 

Various medical facilities are at the disposal of insured individuals, delivering diagnoses and treatments that align with established medical standards. Moreover, these facilities shoulder the responsibility for expenses when a hospital is incapable of delivering the required service and the insured person needs to be transferred to a higher-capacity facility. Insured individuals possess the privilege to receive medical treatment at hospitals within the network, as stipulated by their entitlements, and all this comes at no cost. 

 

However, it's essential to take note of diseases and services that do not qualify for medical coverage, constituting a group of eight exempted conditions: 

1. Cosmetic procedures without medical necessity. 

2. Experimental treatments. 

3. Infertility treatment. 

4. Examinations that exceed the essential requirements for disease treatment. 

5. Gender transition procedures. 

6. Artificial insemination. 

7. Services related to recovery treatment. 

8. Provision of glasses in cases where the insured person has undergone intraocular lens surgery and cannot wear artificial intraocular lenses. 

 

In instances where no medical facility within the authorized medical treatment network is available, insured individuals who have fulfilled the sickness-related contribution conditions can receive treatment at a hospital. In cases of harm resulting from accidents, they can claim reimbursement for medical services at a rate equivalent to that of sickness-related injuries. For other illnesses, medical services can also be reimbursed at the same rate as emergency medical conditions. 

 

When insured individuals require inpatient treatment, they should immediately inform the Social Security Office in the area where the incident occurred. The Social Security Office will then designate appropriate medical facilities for insured individuals to continue receiving medical services. 

 

 

Case 2: Childbirth Benefits 

To be eligible for childbirth benefits, the following criteria and conditions must be met: 

  • The insured person must have made contributions for not less than 5 months within the 15 months preceding the month of childbirth. 

  • The insured person is entitled to receive a lump sum payment of 15,000 baht per childbirth for medical services related to childbirth. 

  • For insured women, there is an additional entitlement to a maternity leave allowance at a rate of 50 percent of the average wage for a duration of 90 days. However, for the third child and beyond, maternity leave allowance is not applicable. Maternity leave is compensated at a rate of 50 percent of the average wages for a period of 90 days. 

In cases where both the husband and wife are insured, either one of them can claim the maternity allowance, and there is no limit on the number of children eligible for this benefit. 

 

 

Case 3: Disability Benefits 

Disability is defined as the loss of organs, loss of organ function, physical impairment, or the loss of mental capacity to the extent that one is unable to perform regular work. This determination is made in accordance with the criteria set by the Medical Board. 

Eligibility Criteria and Terms: 

To be eligible for disability benefits, the insured person must have made contributions for at least 3 months within the 15 months preceding the onset of disability. 

 

Compensatory Benefits: 

1. Compensation for Loss of Income: 

  • In cases of severe disability, the insured person will receive a lifetime monthly compensation equal to 50 percent of their monthly wages. 

  • For cases of mild disability, compensation for lost income will be provided according to the criteria and duration specified in the official announcement. 

2. Medical Service Fees: 

  • If medical services are received at a government hospital: 

  • For outpatient services, the insured person pays only the actual costs required for medical services. 

  • For inpatient services, payments for medical services at healthcare facilities are calculated based on diagnostic groups (DRGs). 

  • If medical services are received at a private hospital: 

  • For outpatient services, the insured person pays the actual costs, not exceeding 2,000 baht per month. 

  • For inpatient services, the insured person pays the actual costs, not exceeding 4,000 baht per month. 

  • Ambulance fees or transportation costs for disabled individuals receiving medical services are provided as a lump sum payment, not exceeding 500 baht per month. 

  • In the event of a decision to classify an individual as disabled, they become eligible to receive an old age pension. 

  • Insured persons who are disabled and receive rehabilitation as workers of the Social Security Office will be compensated for rehabilitation expenses in accordance with the criteria specified in the official announcement. 

3. Funeral Expenses: 

  • In the unfortunate event of the death of a disabled insured person, the funeral director is entitled to receive funeral expenses amounting to 50,000 baht. 

  • In the event of the death of a disabled insured person who is entitled to receive additional benefits, the following applies: 

  • If the insured person has paid contributions for 3 years or more but less than 10 years, they will receive an allowance equal to two months' average wages. 

  • Insured persons who have paid contributions for 10 years or more will receive an allowance equal to six months' average wages. 

 

 

Case 4: Death Benefits 

To be eligible for death benefits, the insured person must have made contributions for at least 1 month within the 6 months preceding their death, provided that the death is not work-related. 

 

Benefits for Intentional Injury or Death Caused by Self or Others: 

Death benefits for insured persons who intentionally injure themselves, cause their own death, or allow others to cause their death include the following: 

 

Funeral Expenses: A sum of 50,000 baht is paid to the designated funeral director. The funeral director can be one of the following: 

  (a) A person for whom the insured person has provided a written specification to act as the funeral director and who has accepted this responsibility. 

  (b) The insured person's husband, wife, father, mother, or child who can provide evidence of their role as the funeral director. 

  (c) Another individual who can provide evidence that they are an insured funeral director. 

 

Death Benefit: In the event of the insured person's death, the benefit payment will be made to the person designated by the insured in a written letter specifying the recipient of the allowance. If the insured person has not provided such a letter, the benefit will be distributed among the insured person's surviving family members, including the husband, wife, parents, or children, in the following manner: 

 

  • If the insured person has made contributions for 36 months or more but less than 120 months before their death, a benefit equal to 2 months' average wages will be paid. 

  • If the insured person has made contributions for 120 months or more before their death, a benefit equal to 6 months' average wages will be paid. 

 

Eligible Recipients of Death Allowance: Those eligible to receive the death allowance include persons for whom the insured has provided a written specification to receive the assistance money. In the absence of such a specification, the insured person's surviving family members, including the husband, wife, parents, or children, are entitled to receive the benefit. 

 

In the case of the insured person's death, eligible heirs can also request a refund in the case of old age within 2 years, as detailed in the case of old age. 

 

Case 5: Child Support Rights 

To be eligible for child support rights, the following criteria and conditions must be met: 

  • Insurance Status: The insured person must be covered under Section 33 or Section 39. 

  • Contributions: Contributions must have been paid for a minimum of 12 months within a period of 36 months prior to the month in which the entitlement to receive compensation arises. This entitles the insured person to receive a lump sum child allowance of 800 baht per month per child. 

  • Eligible Children: The child for whom support is claimed must be a legitimate child, with exceptions for adopted children or children given up for adoption by another person. 

  • Age Limit: The eligible child's age must be from birth to 6 years old. However, this support can be claimed for no more than 3 children at a time, unless the insured person is disabled or has passed away. Children from birth to 6 years old have the right to continue receiving benefits until they reach 6 years of age. 

  • Loss of Child Support Rights Occurs in the Following Situations: 

- When the child reaches 6 years of age. 

- In the unfortunate event of the child's death. 

- If the insured person gives their child up for adoption by someone else. 

- If the insured person's coverage is terminated. 

 

Case 6: Old Age Pension Criteria and Conditions 

In the case of old-age pensions, certain criteria and conditions must be met. Here are the terms and conditions: 

 

Conditions for Entitlement: 

- The insured person must have paid contributions for a minimum of 180 months, regardless of whether this 180-month period is consecutive or not. 

- The insured person must have reached 55 years of age. 

- The insured person's coverage must be terminated. 

 

Alternate Entitlement Conditions: 

- In case the insured person has not paid contributions for 180 months, they may still be entitled to an old-age pension if they meet the following conditions: 

- The insured person must have reached 55 years of age or be disabled or deceased. 

 

Compensatory Benefits for Old Age Pensions: 

- If the insured person has paid contributions for at least 180 months, they are entitled to receive a monthly old-age pension. The pension amount is calculated at a rate of 20 percent of the average wage of the last 60 months used as the basis for calculating contributions before the insured person's coverage ends. 

- If contributions have been paid for more than 180 months, the old-age pension rate mentioned in the previous point will be increased. This increase is at a rate of 1.5 percent per period of contribution payments for every 12 months for periods where contributions exceed 180 months. 

 

Compensatory Benefits in Case of Limited Contributions: 

- If the insured person has paid contributions for less than 12 months, they will still receive an old-age pension. The amount will be equal to the contribution amount that the insured person paid. 

- In the case where contributions have been paid for 12 months or more, the old-age pension will be paid at an amount equal to the contribution amount paid by the insured person and the employer. The specific benefits in return are determined by the Social Security Office. 

- If the recipient of the old-age pension passes away within 60 months from the month in which the right to receive the old-age pension is established, their eligible heirs will receive an old-age pension amounting to 10 times the monthly old-age pension that was last received before their death. 

 

Case 7: Unemployment Benefits 

To be eligible for unemployment benefits, specific criteria and conditions must be met. Here are the requirements: 

 

Eligibility Criteria: 

  • The insured person must have paid contributions for at least 6 months within the 15-month period before becoming unemployed, either with their last employer or in cases where unemployment is due to force majeure. 

  • There must be a period of unemployment lasting 8 days or more. 

  • The insured person must register as unemployed via the internet system at the State Employment Office's website (https://e-service.doe.go.th) within 30 days from the date of resignation, dismissal, or the end of the employment contract. They will be entitled to receive unemployment benefits starting from the 8th day of unemployment. 

  • The insured person is required to report to appointments via the internet on the employment office's website not less than once a month. 

  • The insured person must be capable of working and ready to perform suitable work as provided. 

  • They must not refuse an internship. 

  • Unemployed individuals must not have been laid off for the following reasons: 

  - Deliberately committing a criminal offense against the employer. 

 - Intentionally causing damage to the employer. 

  - Violating work regulations or lawful orders in serious cases. 

  - Abandoning duties for 7 consecutive working days without reasonable cause. 

  - Negligence that causes serious damage to the employer. 

  - Having received a prison sentence according to a court judgment. 

  - They must not be entitled to receive compensation in the case of old age. 

 

Unemployment compensation is provided as follows: 

- In cases of dismissal, the insured person can receive compensation during unemployment for a maximum of 180 days per year. The compensation rate is 50 percent of the average wage, calculated based on the minimum monthly contribution base of 1,650 baht and the maximum contribution base not exceeding 15,000 baht. For example, an insured person with an average salary of 10,000 baht will receive 5,000 baht per month. 

- In the case of resignation or termination of the employment contract according to the specified period, the insured person can receive compensation during unemployment for a maximum of 90 days per year. The compensation rate is 30 percent of the average wage, calculated based on a minimum contribution base of 1,650 baht per month and a maximum contribution base of not more than 15,000 baht. For example, an insured person with an average salary of 10,000 baht will receive 3,000 baht per month. 

- If an application for unemployment compensation is submitted due to being laid off or for reasons related to being fired or resigning and ending an employment contract more than once within one calendar year, the insured person is entitled to receive compensation each time. However, the total duration of compensation cannot exceed 180 days. In the case of applying for unemployment benefits due to resignation or termination of an employment contract more than once within one calendar year, the total duration of compensation cannot exceed 90 days. 

 

For further information about Social Security, please contact the Social Security Office or call the hotline 1506, available every day, 24 hours a day. 

 

Reference:  

Benefits & Compensation Funds (Accessed January 30,2024). Retrieved from [https://www.sso.go.th/wpr/main

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