⚡ TL;DR — Quick Summary
▸CARE Formula = an entirely new pension calculation method
▸"Helps some groups" but Section 33 workers may receive less
▸Max contributors + long-term workers = highest risk of losing out
▸Without advocacy, this impact becomes permanent
You worked.
You paid.
You trusted the system.
Then one day,
the rules changed —
without asking you.
— That is the beginning of a "silent loss" that millions of workers don't yet realize is happening to them.
💡 What Is the CARE Formula? (Plain Language Explanation)
The CARE Formula is a proposed new method for calculating Social Security pensions in Thailand, with two stated goals: distributing benefits more generously to lower-income contributors, and reducing inequality within the overall system.
Sounds reasonable — but structurally, it is a "rebalancing", which means:
👉 Some groups receive more
👉 And another group "must receive less"
That's the core of the problem. Not everyone benefits equally — and you don't get to choose which side you're on.
📉 Who Is Most at Risk?
If you fit this profile, read this carefully:
⚠️ Highest Risk Group — Check Now
🔴
Section 33 contributors paying near or at the 15,000 THB ceiling
🔴
20–30 years of continuous contributions to the Social Security system
🔴
Trusted the system without checking whether the formula could change unilaterally
👉 You are the "group taking the full impact" if the CARE Formula is enforced without any opt-out option.
🔍 Three Key Areas of Impact
📊 Documented Effects from the New Formula's Structure
1
Pension "Averaged Down" for High Contributors
The new formula trends toward lowering returns for high contributors, redistributing the gap to lower-income workers. This is a structural "averaging" that directly affects the calculation base.
2
Significantly Reduced Return on Contribution
Contributing more no longer means receiving proportionally more. The direct pay-to-benefit relationship that defined the old system is being decoupled in ways that hurt high contributors most.
3
Irreversible Long-Term Opportunity Loss
The longer you've been in the system, the more "deserved value" you stand to lose — because earlier years of contribution will be recalculated under a formula that yields less than originally promised.
🧠 Side-by-Side: Old System vs CARE Formula
| Category |
Old System |
CARE Formula |
| Maximum ceiling contributors |
Proportional benefit |
Likely reduced |
| Lower-income contributors |
Received less |
Receives more |
| Pay-to-benefit relationship |
Directly proportional |
Decoupled |
| Long-term contributors (20–30 yrs) |
Full benefit |
Risk of losing out |
| Worker choice in formula |
Limited |
No option given |
👉 In summary: a "new averaging" that hurts high contributors — and you were never asked whether you agreed to it.
❗
Key Insight: The Real Problem Isn't Just "A New Formula"
The fundamental problem is that "you have no right to choose" which formula governs your pension.
You spent 30 years contributing under one set of rules. When those rules change — without asking you — the result is permanent, irreversible damage to your retirement security.
🚨 What Happens If No One Acts?
This isn't speculation — these are the consequences of letting the CARE Formula become a permanent standard:
📌 CARE Formula becomes mandatory for all current contributors
📌 Section 33 workers lose out permanently with no path to reversal
📌 Future generations entering the system will face worse outcomes with no baseline comparison
✊ The Path Forward: 3 Rights to Demand
These are not requests — they are rights that every enrolled worker deserves:
⚖️ The 3 Requests Law — The Most-Advocated Reform
1
The Right to Choose — Lump Sum or Pension, Your Decision
Contributors must have the right to decide how they receive their retirement benefits. The system should not decide unilaterally.
2
The Right to Reclaim — Partial Withdrawal Before Retirement
In emergencies, contributors should be able to access a portion of their own accumulated savings before reaching retirement age.
3
The Right to Borrow — Use Your Own Money as Collateral
Contributors should be able to borrow against their own accumulated contributions in times of need, without waiting until retirement.
👉 Full details on the 3 Requests Law: boonarayapon.com/en/policy/3kor
💬 The Question You Must Answer
If you knew that
the money you've contributed your entire working life
is about to pay out less than promised —
would you stay silent?
— Share with your Section 33 colleagues · Forward to family · Don't wait
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does the CARE Formula actually reduce pensions?
It has a likely negative impact on certain groups — particularly Section 33 workers who contribute at high levels over long periods. The new formula redistributes benefits toward lower-income contributors, which means high contributors may receive proportionally less than under the old system.
Who is most at risk from the CARE Formula?
Section 33 workers who contribute near or at the 15,000 THB ceiling and have been in the system continuously for 20–30 years are at greatest risk. The pay-more, get-more relationship built into the old formula is significantly altered under CARE.
Does the CARE Formula have any benefits at all?
Yes — it benefits lower-income workers by raising their pension floor and reducing system-wide inequality. However, this comes at the cost of redistributing from high contributors, which is the core concern for long-term Section 33 workers.
What can I do to protect my pension rights?
The most-advocated approach is the "3 Requests" Law: the right to choose between lump-sum or annuity pension, the right to reclaim partial savings before retirement, and the right to borrow against your own contributions. See
en/policy/3kor for full details.
What should Section 33 workers do right now?
First,
calculate your estimated pension to understand your real numbers. Then follow updates on the CARE Formula and join advocacy efforts through boonarayapon.com channels to demand the right to choose.
