Social Security Fund of Thailand: What You Need to Know?

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As mandated by Thai labor law, employees in Thailand, including foreigners, must register for Social Security Fund. This enables them to access and enjoy social security benefits.

Here are the things you need to know about the Social Security Fund of Thailand:

What is Social Security Fund in Thailand?

Social security is a fund providing security and coverage to insured individuals.

The Social Security Act requires employers and employees to contribute to the Social Security Fund on a monthly basis.

How much is Social Security Fund contribution in Thailand?

Currently, the contribution rate is 5% of the employee’s pay.

The minimum and maximum salaries to be calculated are THB 1,650 and THB 15,000, respectively; thus, the minimum contribution is THB 83 and the maximum contribution is THB 750.

Even if an employee’s monthly salary is more than THB 15,000, the maximum contribution is only THB 750.

Contributions must be submitted to the Social Security Office within the 15th of the following month.

Who are required to register to Social Security Fund in Thailand

A company with one or more employees aged 15 to 60 must register with the Social Security Office and submit their employee’s Social Security Fund application within 30 days of the employee’s start date.

Foreign workers who are legally employed in Thailand must register with the Social Security Office and are eligible for the same benefits as Thai workers.

Who are insured under the Social Security Fund Act?

The Social Security Act provides that an insured person means someone who pays contributions which provide entitlement to benefits under the Act.

Insured persons include the following:

An employee who is not less than 15 years old and not older than 60 years old as defined by section 33.
An employee under section 39, who is an insured person under section 33 having paid contributions for a period of not less than 12 months and ceases to be an insured person by ending to be an employee. If the employee wishes to continue to be an insured person, the employee must inform the Social Security Office within six months and submit a contribution to the fund within the 15th of the following month.
Any other person who is not an employee under section 33 or section 39 may apply to be an insured person under section 40 by informing the Social Security Office.

What benefits are insured persons entitled to?

An insured person is entitled to receive the following benefits:

Injury and Sickness Benefits

An insured person is eligible to a non-occupational injury or sickness benefit under the Social Security Act if the employee has paid contributions for at least three months out of the previous 15 months prior to the date of receiving medical treatment.

When an employee is absent from work for a period of not more than 90 days per incident and not more than 180 days in a year, the covered person is entitled to 50 percent of his or her wage.

The employee is entitled to benefits for more than 180 days but not more than 365 days if he or she is sick with a chronic ailment, as specified in the Ministerial Regulations.

Maternity Benefits

Employees are eligible for maternity benefits if they have paid contributions for at least five months within the previous 15 months.

If a female employee needs to take time from work to give birth, she will be paid 50% of her salary in a lump amount for a period of 90 days on each occasion.

Employees are eligible for maternity benefits if they give birth to their children no more than twice.

Disability Benefits

When an insured person has paid contributions for at least three months in the previous 15 months, they will be eligible for non-work-related disability benefits.

If the insured becomes incapacitated due to non-work-related causes, the insured is entitled to benefits at a rate and for a duration determined by the Medical Committee, but not exceeding 50% of the pay.

If the insured person became disabled and such disability is at a severe level according to the Medical Committee’s criteria, the insured will receive benefits of 50% of the salary.

Death Benefits

Within 6 months of death, the insured employee must have made at least one month’s contribution.

If the insured individual contributed for more than 36 months but less than 120 months, the recipient is entitled to 50% of the wage payout multiplied by four.

In case the insured employee contributed for more than 120 months, the recipient can get 50% of the wage payment multiplied by 12 according to the law. In addition, the survivors shall receive Funeral Grant amounting to 40,000 Baht.

Child Benefits

If an employee has paid contributions for at least 12 months in the previous 36 months, he or she will be eligible for child benefits.

The insured person will be eligible for child assistance for his or her children under the age of 15 and up to three children at a time.

Old-age Benefits

A person must be at least 55 years old and have made more than 180 months of contributions to be eligible.

The claimant can get a cash benefit or pension equivalent to 20% of his average wage for the last 60 months and 1.5% per additional 12 months of contributions above 180 months.

Pensioners who have contributed for more than 12 months but less than 180 months can receive a lump sum equal to the employee’s and employer’s contributions plus interest.

For those with less than 12 months contribution, they can get a lump sum equal to the contribution from employee.

If the insured employee dies before obtaining old-age benefits, and his/her parents, children and spouse have passed away, the benefits will go to other surviving relatives.

Unemployment Benefits

The claimant needs to meet certain criteria and with at least 6 months contributions within 15 months before unemployment. He or she must have also registered at the Public Employment Office as job seeker within 30 days after being unemployed.

If laid off, the insured person shall receive 50% of average wages up to 180 days within 1 year. An employer who resigned voluntarily shall receive 30% of average wages up to 90 days within 1 year.

An employee can make a claim if the employer ceases its business operation for a temporary period due to force majeure.

Wrapping Up

It pays to know all that the necessary information about the Thai Social Security Fund. During this time of pandemic, this agency can be a safe haven for our ‘kababayans’ who have been laid off from their jobs.