By: Dhita Karuniawati )*
The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has demonstrated his commitment to strengthening social protection for all levels of society by taking strategic steps to accelerate the distribution of social assistance (Bansos) and expand the coverage of beneficiaries. This initiative is a key part of the Prabowo-Gibran administration’s priority agenda in responding to the socio-economic challenges faced by communities in the post-pandemic period, amid global uncertainties and inflationary pressures affecting the purchasing power of the lower-middle class. The acceleration and expansion of Bansos programs not only reflect the government’s support for vulnerable groups but also serve as a medium-term strategy to strengthen the foundations of public welfare, maintain social stability, and promote inclusive economic participation.
The government reported that social assistance disbursement reached Rp 20.26 trillion in the first semester of this year. The Directorate General of Treasury at the Ministry of Finance explained that as of July 9, 2025, cash assistance amounting to Rp 200,000 has been distributed to 18.2 million Beneficiary Families (KPM), accounting for 97.2% of the targeted recipients. Previously, assistance was distributed in the form of rice. Now, the government distributes cash assistance of Rp 200,000 per month for each Beneficiary Family.
The distribution of Bansos is carried out through the Ministry of Social Affairs, targeting Beneficiary Families based on the government’s latest socio-economic database, the National Unified Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN). DTSEN has officially replaced the previous DTKS system as the primary reference for Bansos distribution starting from the second quarter of 2025. This new data system integrates various sources from ministries and agencies, strictly verified by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) and the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). Therefore, only families registered and validated in DTSEN are eligible to receive social assistance such as the Family Hope Program (PKH), staple food packages, and other social programs.
In addition to acceleration, the government is also expanding Bansos coverage by adding previously uncovered categories of beneficiaries, such as informal workers affected by layoffs, elderly without steady income, and marginalized groups in remote areas.
The government’s plan to provide permanent or lifetime Bansos to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and individuals with mental disorders (ODGJ) has received positive responses from parliament members. DPR member Netty Prasetiyani expressed her support for the government’s plan. She welcomed and fully endorsed the initiative to provide ongoing assistance to vulnerable groups like the elderly, people with disabilities, and ODGJ, calling it a concrete form of protection.
Netty views this policy as the state’s acknowledgment of the basic needs of citizens unable to sustain themselves independently due to permanent conditions. Nevertheless, she stressed the importance of monitoring to ensure the program truly reaches the targeted vulnerable groups transparently and effectively at the grassroots level.
She highlighted the need for data validation and integration involving local governments, disability organizations, elderly communities, and local community leaders to ensure assistance reaches the rightful recipients. This is crucial considering many vulnerable citizens remain unregistered or lack a national ID number (NIK), despite requiring state support. Beyond data collection, Netty also urged that social assistance should not be purely consumptive but accompanied by continuous support, particularly for productive individuals with disabilities and active elderly who remain capable. Disbursing assistance does not conclude the state’s duty; psychosocial support, family training, and empowerment programs for disabled individuals should be part of the program.
Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar, announced that people with disabilities, the elderly, and individuals with mental disorders will receive permanent Bansos. Outside of these three vulnerable groups, assistance distribution will be limited to a maximum of five years. Under President Prabowo’s administration, the government is also promoting the digitalization of Bansos distribution. Through collaboration between the Ministry of Social Affairs, state-owned banks (Bank Himbara), and PT Pos Indonesia, disbursement is conducted non-cash to minimize irregularities and speed up distribution.
Technologies such as biometric identification systems and NIK-based verification are also being implemented to ensure assistance is properly targeted. The unified database is continuously updated through active collaboration with local governments, neighborhood
