Minister Juliari Confirms Social Assistance Program Extended

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Social Affairs Minister Juliari P. Batubara has confirmed the government will extend the social assistance of cash transfer program until June 2021. However, the amount will likely be lower at Rp200,000 per beneficiary family (KPM).

Previously, the cash transfer was disbursed monthly at Rp600,000 per KPM from April to June, and Rp300,000 per KPM from July to December for people whose economy has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“President Joko Widodo has agreed with the expansion of the program. However, it is temporarily decided that the amount will be smaller at Rp200,000 per KPM,” said Juliari as quoted from Antara on Friday, November 13, 2020.

According to him, the reduction of the cash aid amount is based on several considerations, including the rising number of recipients, the budget availability, and the impact of the pandemic that is predicted to lessen.

The ministry’s Integrated Data for Social Welfare (DTKS) system recorded there were 29 million poor households in Indonesia. Of the number, 20 million have received similar government’s financial aid, namely the non-cash food assistance program (BPNT), and the other 10 million have got the Family Hope Program (PKH).

“So, the cash aid program reaches 9 million poor households who are not receiving regular assistance programs, either BPNT or PKH,” Minister Juliari explained.

Read: COVID-19: Govt to Continue Providing Social Assistance Next Year

ANTARA