“I am so happy that the government is offering such assistance to poor people. I plan to spend this money on warm clothes. Those I have are worn out and I need to keep myself warm this winter,” Liam Sriyong, a 62-year-old resident of Nakhon Ratchasima province, said as she waited at a branch of the Government Savings Bank (GSB).

Another beneficiary, Chom Chamaroeng, said she planned to invest the money in her small trade business. “I won’t waste it,” Chom, 40, promised.

The government began paying registered low-income earners on Friday via bank accounts.

However, those who do not have a bank account at participating banks will need to open one first. Those who already have a bank account but no ATM card will have to visit the bank to withdraw money.

Under the scheme, the government will pay Bt3,000 to people earning less than Bt30,000 a year who registered before November 25. Those earning more than Bt30,000 annually but less than Bt100,000 will receive Bt1,500.

Huge crowds of people queued from early morning at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) branch in Soong Men, Phrae, while more than 600 queued to open bank accounts at GSB bank in Phichit.

“I have been waiting for several hours since 8am,” Thom Kam-on, 57, said.

Suchart Petchsud, director of a BAAC branch in Phrae province, said some people were worried after learning that their welfare sum had yet to arrive yesterday.

“We have explained that if they registered after November 25, they will have to wait for the next round of payments on December 30,” he said.

Pinai Poonlek, a BAAC branch manager in Yala province, said people should check whether their registration as low-income earners was successful on the Revenue Department’s website.

“If you don’t find your name there, contact your back again by December 15 otherwise you may lose out on the welfare sum,” he said.