IMPLEMENTATION OF ELDERLY ALLOWANCE POLICY IN URBAN COMMUNITIES: A CASE STUDY OF BANG KHAE DISTRICT, BANGKOK

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to analyze operational obstacles, area-specific context influences, and improvement guidelines for the elderly allowance policy implementation in Bang Khae District. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with eight key informants across four groups alongside document analysis. The findings revealed three main challenges: 1) Policy and Legal: The transitional 2023 regulation lacks clarity, limiting officials' discretion and causing inconsistent interpretations. 2) Management: Managing high workloads relies heavily on supplementary resources, while the e-Social Welfare system's inability to verify temporary government workers leads to overlapping rights. 3) Area-Specific Context: Complexities involve cross-agency coordination with the elderly home, access disparities between organized and non-organized communities, and the digital divide. Macro-level recommendations include clearly defining "insufficient income" criteria, integrating comprehensive inter-agency databases, and adjusting allowance rates. Local-level recommendations suggest clarifying BMA guidelines, securing staff employment, expanding outreach to non-organized areas, and promoting inter-district learning for standardized practices.

Keywords: Policy Implementation, Elderly Allowance, Bang Khae District, Urban Aging, Street-level Bureaucracy