Eleven state agencies on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on welfare registration and the screening of eligible persons.

“We estimate as many as 15 million people this year will enroll to get welfare due to the wider coverage of registration channels,” said Somchai Sujjapongse, permanent secretary for the Finance Ministry.

The registration will take place between April 3 and May 15, and anyone can submit a registration form via any of five channels – nationwide branches of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives(BAAC), the Government Savings Bank, Krung Thai Bank, provincial Comptroller General Offices and Bangkok district offices.

Apirom Sukprasert, senior executive vice president of the BAAC, said his bank would also facilitate the registration at local government offices nationwide.

“About 9 million farmers are expected to register with the BAAC,” said Apirom.

People can also download registration forms from http://www.mof.go.th, http://www.fpo.go.th and http://www.epayment.go.th starting immediately.

“Eligible person for welfare this year will get discounts on bills for tap water, electricity, bus and train tickets, as well as Bangkok ‘s mass transit and train tickets,” Somchai said.

Eligible people must demonstrate that they are low-income earners with annual income last year not exceeding Bt100,000, financial assets of not more than Bt 100,000, and condominium units not exceeding 35 square metres or housing areas not larger than 25 square wa (100 quare metres). They must also be at least 18 years old.