By: Dhita Karuniawati )*
The government continues to strengthen its commitment to maintaining public welfare through various social protection programs. One concrete manifestation of this commitment is the distribution of Social Assistance (Bansos) from the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) phase 3 in 2025, which will run from July to September 2025. In implementing this phase, the government firmly prioritizes vulnerable families as the main recipients of assistance to anticipate the economic impacts still felt by some groups of society due to fluctuations in staple food prices, climate change, and global economic uncertainty.
Vulnerable families are the group most impacted by social and economic pressures, including extreme poverty, unemployment, and limited access to education and health services. Therefore, the government, through the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs, ensures that aid is targeted at families in this category, using an approach based on accurate and verified data.
The Ministry of Social Affairs ensures that assistance is provided on time, on target, and effectively utilized. Through the National Social and Economic Single Data System (DTSEN), verification and validation processes are continuously strengthened to ensure there is no duplicate, fictitious, or ineligible data. As a result, approximately 1.9 million ineligible recipients have been removed from the beneficiary list.
Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf said this deletion was done to ensure that social assistance is only provided to the people who need it most, especially those in Deciles 1–4 (categories of extreme poverty to vulnerability).
Meanwhile, those in Deciles 6–10 are deemed ineligible for assistance because they exceed the economic threshold for recipients. They are categorized as an inclusion error, and their aid is diverted to families in greater need.
Maman Imanul Haq, a member of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives from the National Awakening Party (PKB), commended the government, particularly the Ministry of Social Affairs, for removing the names of social assistance (Bansos) recipients suspected of involvement in online gambling (Judol). Social assistance must be distributed appropriately to those who truly need it, and not to those who misuse it for gambling, which clearly harms many parties.
Previously, the Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf, said that the number of social assistance recipients who were crossed out in the second quarter distribution period reached 228,048 people, out of a total of 603,999 beneficiary families (KPM) who were indicated to be involved in online gambling, based on findings by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).
The disbursement of the PKH BPNT social assistance will be carried out in stages through two main channels: Himbara banks and PT Pos Indonesia. Eligible recipients are those with an active ID card (KTP) and a family card (KKS) with certain data characteristics that have been synchronized with the national social assistance system.
The main requirement to be included in the recipient list is ownership of an ID card and KKS with data that matches the Population Identification Number (NIK) and the social assistance system connected through SIKS-NG (Social Welfare Information System-Next Generation).
Participants with valid data will immediately proceed to the verification stage and will be distributed by banks or post offices according to the distribution area scheme. Those registered for the Family Hope Program (PKH) typically receive cash assistance according to their needs, such as pregnant women, toddlers, school children, people with disabilities, or the elderly. Meanwhile, BPNT recipients will receive food assistance or a fixed cash equivalent.
The disbursement process is carried out through two schemes. For Beneficiary Families (KPM) who have active accounts at Himbara banks such as BRI, BNI, Mandiri, and BSI, assistance will be transferred directly to their accounts. However, for recipients who do not yet have account access or are experiencing technical difficulties, distribution will be handled through PT Pos Indonesia. In these cases, recipients are required to bring their ID card (KTP), Family Card (KK), and an invitation letter from a postal officer, previously delivered by a companion or social worker.
The assistance received includes a cash amount according to the third phase of social assistance, plus the possibility of additional assistance in the form of 20 kg of rice per month, which is currently being distributed in parallel by the National Food Agency. Furthermore, in some regions, local governments also provide additional incentives if recipients are enrolled in other protection programs such as PIP or PBI-JKN. In general, the total social assistance received by KPM can range from Rp 600,000 to Rp 1,400,000, depending on the type of program and the number of registered family members.
The distribution of the PKH (Family Hope Program) and BPNT (Non-Cash Food Assistance) phase 3 is believed to have a positive impact on social stability and public purchasing power, particularly towards the end of the year. This assistance not only serves to support basic needs but also serves as an instrument for family empowerment. The government hopes that through the sustainability of this social assistance program, poverty and social vulnerability can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, this program is expected to serve as a bridge to self-reliance for beneficiary families, enabling recipients to improve their standard of living and move out of poverty over time.
Going forward, the integration of social assistance with economic empowerment programs such as entrepreneurship training, micro-business assistance, and access to financing will also be further strengthened. Thus, social assistance will not only serve as consumer assistance but also serve as a starting point for promoting productivity and sustainable prosperity. Through the PKH (Family Hope Program) and BPNT (Non-Cash Food Assistance) phase 3, which prioritize vulnerable families, the government affirms its commitment to building an inclusive, just, and prosperous society amidst the ever-evolving challenges of the times.
*) The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute
