Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf responded to public complaints about inaccurate social assistance data by calling on citizens to actively submit corrections to ensure aid reaches eligible recipients.

Yusuf encouraged the public to help verify and correct the lists of recipients of social assistance and the ongoing Temporary Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) program to ensure that government aid reaches those who are truly eligible.

“We hope this can also serve as a field check to make sure that beneficiaries are truly those who deserve to receive assistance,” Saifullah said in Jakarta on Monday.

One of the complaints came from Dharma Muthe, a resident of Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra, who said he had not received social assistance or BLT despite being categorized as eligible, while his neighbor—who he claimed was already financially stable—had received government assistance.

The video posted by Muthe went viral over the past few days across various social media platforms.

Yusuf further acknowledged that improving beneficiary data cannot be done instantly, as it requires on-site verification. He said the government understands public frustration, noting that social dynamics change rapidly and require continuous data updating.

The minister added that the Social Affairs Ministry has provided multiple channels for the public to submit corrections or objections, including the Cek Bansos application.

Aside from the app, citizens can also file complaints via the 24-hour hotline 021-171, and the ministry has prepared a fast-response service through WhatsApp.

“The channels are already available. The requirements are clear, people need to attach supporting data such as photos of their house, assets, and family information to speed up verification. Just send them in, and we will follow up,” Yusuf stated.

The Social Affairs Ministry has been assigned to distribute regular social assistance for the fourth quarter of 2025, including the Family Hope Program (PKH), the Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT), and BLT, with a total allocation of 35,046,783 beneficiary households (KPM).

Of this quota, 16.3 million are existing beneficiaries and 18.7 million are new recipients listed in the Integrated National Socioeconomic Data (DTSEN). Beneficiaries receive a total stimulus ranging from Rp900,000 to Rp1.2 million.

With the support of distribution partners—PT Pos Indonesia and state-owned banks (Himbara)—the ministry completed the first phase of distribution to 15.7 million beneficiaries in October.

The second phase will target 11.6 million households, while more than 8 million households are scheduled to receive assistance in the third phase in December 2025.

The ministry confirmed that these groups are part of the 18.7 million new beneficiaries verified as belonging to deciles 1 to 4 under the national socioeconomic data compiled by Statistics Indonesia (BPS).

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Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Arie Novarina
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