Rapid population aging and economic transformation present significant policy challenges in ensuring income security for older adults in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, where the social welfare budget is relatively low, elderly individuals and their families face mounting pressures to sustain their livelihoods post-retirement. The Old Age Allowance (OAA), a social pension program, serves as a safety net, particularly for older Thai citizens without family support or receiving minimal assistance. This study examines the multifaceted roles of the OAA program, focusing on its impact on elderly beneficiaries’ economic well-being and social dynamics. Using in-depth interviews conducted between 2021 and 2022 in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand, this research analyzes responses from four distinct groups: poor and non-poor beneficiaries in both urban and rural settings. The findings reveal that the OAA program affects beneficiaries differently based on their economic status and location, with rural elderly facing more significant barriers to healthcare access and financial stability than their urban counterparts. Despite its positive impacts-such as improved diet, psychosocial benefits, and partial relief from household expensesthe modest monthly benefit is insufficient to lift low-income beneficiaries out of poverty. This limitation is especially evident for individuals dependent exclusively on the OAA for sustenance. This research highlights the necessity for specific policy adjustments to mitigate rural-urban inequalities and improve the sufficiency of social pensions. These findings enhance the comprehension of social assistance programs in developing countries, underscoring their essential function as a partial safety net while also acknowledging their inadequacies in eliminating poverty. It is necessary to implement sustainable measures that support aging populations and mitigate disparities in program access and efficacy to ensure the well-being of older persons in Thailand and comparable settings.
Khemarin Pensaengon (Mon,) studied this question.