Social Security benefits are one of those things many of us know we have, but rarely stop to check whether anything has changed.
Some people still remember dental benefits as being limited to THB 900 per year. Others know that Social Security provides compensation for illness or unemployment, but may not know that several benefits were expanded in 2026, along with an increase in the wage ceiling used to calculate contributions and certain benefits.
So Merry’s Care has put together a simple update on what changed in 2026, and what you may want to check before paying for healthcare out of pocket.
1. Dental benefits now go beyond “THB 900 per year”
Dental care is probably one of the Social Security benefits most people can relate to, and it saw some notable changes in 2026. The new benefits took effect on 1 May 2026.
While many people are familiar with the THB 900 annual dental allowance, the updated benefits expand both the types of treatment covered and the reimbursement available for certain procedures, particularly at participating public hospitals.
What has been added or changed:
At participating public hospitals: fillings, scaling and tooth extraction, as well as root planing and bone contouring before fitting dentures, according to medical necessity.
Impacted wisdom tooth removal is separated from the original THB 900 allowance, with coverage of approximately THB 1,500–2,500 per tooth, depending on the procedure.
Removable dentures: benefit increased to approximately THB 1,500–6,000, depending on the type.
Denture repair: THB 900 per visit.
Dental implants have been added for eligible people who have lost all of their teeth:
Implant surgery: up to THB 17,500 per person
Implant components: THB 3,300
One thing worth checking is that not every public hospital will necessarily provide every service under the scheme. Before travelling, check whether the hospital participates and whether it provides the treatment you need.
The Social Security Office has an online search page where you can look up participating healthcare facilities by hospital name, province or location.
You can also call the Social Security Office hotline at 1506 to ask about benefits and participating healthcare providers.
2. Faster access to kidney replacement therapy
Another important update concerns renal replacement therapy. This change is not only about reimbursement amounts, but also about reducing barriers so that eligible patients can enter treatment sooner.
Previously, some patients faced conditions and administrative steps before accessing the benefit. In 2026, medical information such as kidney-function measurements plays a greater role in assessing eligibility.
Key benefits include:
Haemodialysis: up to THB 1,500 per session
Maximum of THB 18,000 per month
For kidney-failure patients living with HIV: up to THB 4,000 per session, with a maximum of THB 12,000 per week
Peritoneal dialysis according to applicable criteria
Kidney transplantation benefits covering eligible services before, during and after surgery
For people who may qualify, it is worth checking directly with the Social Security Office if your medical condition or eligibility has changed, rather than relying solely on what you were previously told at a hospital. The criteria in 2026 have changed from the previous system.
3. New personalised prosthetic-eye benefits
In 2026, Social Security also expanded benefits for people who have lost an eye and meet the relevant medical criteria.
Eligible cases may include people with congenital eye atrophy, eye atrophy following globe rupture, or those who have undergone surgery to remove an eye.
New benefits include:
Assessment and prosthetic-eye fitting trial: THB 500
Eye impression: THB 500
Service fee on the day the prosthesis is received: THB 600
Custom-made prosthetic eye: up to THB 5,000 per eye
Transparent conformer: THB 1,500 per piece, where medically necessary
4. Telemedicine has also been introduced
In 2026, Telemedicine services were introduced for patients with chronic conditions, with the aim of reducing unnecessary travel and making follow-up care more convenient.
Benefits announced under the programme include:
Service fee of THB 65 per consultation
No advance payment required from the insured person, subject to programme conditions
If you would like to use Telemedicine, check which chronic conditions are covered and confirm eligibility with the hospital or Social Security Office before using the service.
5. The new THB 17,500 wage ceiling means more than simply “paying more”
Another major change for salaried employees in 2026 is the increase in the maximum wage used to calculate Social Security contributions for Section 33 insured employees.
The previous ceiling of THB 15,000 has increased to THB 17,500 for employees earning at or above that level.
This means the maximum contribution increases—but benefits that are calculated using the wage base can increase as well.
Benefits affected by the new wage base include:
Income compensation during illness
Maximum increases from THB 7,500/month to THB 8,750/monthDisability income compensation
Maximum increases from THB 7,500/month to THB 8,750/monthUnemployment benefit following termination by the employer
Pays 60% of average wages, for up to 180 days per year
Previous THB 15,000 wage ceiling: maximum THB 9,000/month
New THB 17,500 wage ceiling: maximum THB 10,500/monthUnemployment benefit following voluntary resignation or the end of an employment contract
Pays 30% of average wages, for up to 90 days per year
Previous THB 15,000 wage ceiling: maximum THB 4,500/month
New THB 17,500 wage ceiling: maximum THB 5,250/monthIncome compensation for maternity leave
Increases from THB 22,500 per childbirth to THB 26,250 per childbirthDeath benefit
Increases from THB 90,000 to THB 105,000
This is separate from the funeral allowance.Old-age pension after 15 years of contributions
Increases from THB 3,000/month to THB 3,500/monthOld-age pension after 25 years of contributions
Increases from THB 5,250/month to THB 6,125/month
Three ways to check your Social Security benefits
Before using a benefit, it is worth checking the latest information directly through the Social Security Office.
Social Security Office website — check participating healthcare facilities and benefit information.
SSO Plus app — view your insured-person information and check your benefits on your phone.
1506 hotline — ask about specific benefits or cases with additional conditions.
Before paying yourself, check your benefits first
Social Security benefits continue to change. In 2026 alone, dental benefits expanded, certain specialised medical benefits were added or revised, and the wage ceiling used to calculate several benefits increased.
That is why Merry’s Care would like to suggest one extra step before paying for healthcare or medical equipment yourself: take a moment to check whether you already have a Social Security benefit that covers it.
And if you are eligible to vote in the Social Security Board election, the election has been rescheduled from 27 September to Sunday, 11 October 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can check your eligibility and polling location through Social Security Office channels and the SSO Plus app.
If contributions are being deducted from our income every month, knowing what benefits we have, how to use them, and how the system managing those benefits works should be information that is easy for all of us to access.
