Politics
Elderly Man Walks 10km for Disability Allowance Only to Find No Record
A 73-year-old man in Rayong province walked over 10 kilometers to a bank to collect a government disability payment, only to discover his account record was missing.
On September 2, 2026, a 73-year-old man with a disability in Klaeng District, Rayong, faced a distressing situation while attempting to collect a government-provided disability allowance. According to a report by Khaosod Online, the man walked more than 10 kilometers from his home in Ban Hang Yuan, Huai Yang sub-district, to the Government Savings Bank (GSB) Klaeng branch after being instructed by his local Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) to collect his funds.
Upon arriving at the bank in the afternoon, exhausted from his journey, he was assisted by a local resident who helped him approach bank staff. However, after checking their records, officials were unable to locate any account information for the man, leaving him unable to access the expected financial support. Police from Klaeng Station were notified of the incident following the intervention of the concerned citizen.
For residents and expatriates, this incident highlights the potential complexities and bureaucratic hurdles involved in accessing government social welfare programs in rural Thailand. It serves as a reminder that administrative records may not always align with local instructions. It remains to be confirmed why the man’s records were missing from the bank’s system and what steps the local SAO will take to rectify the error and ensure the man receives his entitled assistance.