The increase was anticipated as people failed to register in the first round due to a lack of awareness about the potential benefits, said Krisada Chinavicharana, director of the Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Office (FPO).

However, enrolees could expect more stringent criteria and some might not be qualified to receive help from the government, Krisada said.

“In the previous round, we only laid out loose criteria. As a result, some of the enrolees received benefits they didn’t deserve,” Krisada said. “Some had expensive homes, for example. So, this time we will lay down more clear specifications to ensure the rich cannot get into the scheme.”

People who are eligible this round must be Thai citizens, 18 years old or older, and unemployed or have earned less than Bt 100,000 in 2016.

They must not own any assets worth more than Bt100,000, or own a house on land larger than 25 square wa (100 square metres), a condominium larger than 35 square metres or land larger than one rai (0.16 hectares). Farmers cannot have more than 10 rai of land.

Eligible enrolees must register in the second round regardless of whether they registered in the first round late last year, with authorities urging people to re-register to ensure their data profile was up to date.

Registration will be open until May 15 at branches of Krungthai Bank, the Government Savings Bank and the Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Bank as well as at provincial comptroller offices and Bangkok district offices.

Eligible people will receive an ID card after registering, which will confer benefits such as waivers or discounts for water and electricity utilities charges, transport fees, and rent as well as a government subsidy and cheap accident insurance.

Residents in urban and the rural areas will receive different benefits based on the scheme, Krisada said, adding that people in urban areas could enjoy discounts on transportation fees while people in the rural areas would get different privileges of the same value.

The card would also be compatible with the government’s electronic payment system, Krisada said.

Nearly 8.4 million people were registered as low-income earners last year. About 7.72 million people were found to be eligible with 7.52 million receiving benefits, with the rest not having a bank account or failing to report to authorities.

In the scheme that ended last year, people who earned less than Bt30,000 annually received a Bt3,000 subsidy while those who earned more than Bt30,000 but less than Bt100,000 received Bt1,500.

The scheme cost the government Bt17.5 billion.

The junta’s economic forecast predicts GDP growth of 3 to 4 per cent this year as a result of an expansion of exports, an acceleration of agricultural production and increasing investment. Last year, the economy grew by 3.2 per cent, improving from 2.9 per cent in 2015, according to the National Economic and Social Development Board.