Q4 social aid distribution reaches over 90% beneficiaries: Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf stated that the first phase distribution of regular social assistance and temporary cash assistance (BLTS) to beneficiary families in quarter 4 of 2025 has surpassed 90 percent of the total.”For this first phase, we have already distributed the regular social assistance BLTS to the beneficiaries. This distribution process has surpassed 90 percent,” he said in a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.He explained that in the first phase, with 16.3 million beneficiary families targeted, the assistance is distributed through the state-owned postal company Pos Indonesia for approximately 700,000 beneficiary families, while the remainder is channeled through state-owned banks.Meanwhile, the second phase, which covers 18.7 million beneficiary families, is still in the data verification and validation process.Currently, this process has reached around 80 percent, with the remaining 20 percent awaiting completion before being forwarded to state-owned banks and Pos Indonesia.Yusuf affirmed that the Ministry of Social Affairs continues to ensure the accuracy of the social assistance distribution by conducting field verification, especially for new BLTS beneficiary families sourced from the National Socio-Economic Integrated Data (DTSEN).The ministry has been tasked to distribute regular social assistance, covering the Family Hope Program and staple goods assistance, and BLTS to 35,046,783 beneficiary families in the fourth quarter of 2025.They comprise 16.3 million beneficiary families who are already registered as social assistance beneficiaries and 18.7 million new beneficiary families designated based on the DTSEN.”For new beneficiaries of BLTS, we do require time to perform a field verification because some of the 18.7 million new beneficiary families from DTSEN have not been verified before,” the minister explained.Yusuf added that the verification is part of the Ministry of Social Affairs’ effort to maintain the accuracy of beneficiaries’ data and ensure that assistance is received by people who truly need it.The Ministry of Social Affairs aims to complete the entire distribution of the BLTS for the fourth quarter in the next few weeks. This is intended to support purchasing power ahead of the end of the year, following directions from President Prabowo Subianto.