JAKARTA (22 December 2024) - The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) is set to enhance its social safety net programs and accelerate the implementation of social welfare initiatives to address the impacts of the planned VAT increase and subsidy restrictions.

Andy Kurniawan, the Expert Staff for Strategic Policy Planning and Evaluation at the Ministry of Social Affairs, stated that Kemensos would reinforce its regular social assistance programs while awaiting additional social aid programs from the government, which are currently under discussion.

"Additional social assistance programs are still under review. We hope they will serve as a buffer to alleviate the financial burden on households, especially low-income families," Andy said on Sunday (22/12/2024).

Among the key social assistance programs to be rolled out is the acceleration of the Family Hope Program (PKH), targeting 10 million Beneficiary Families (KPM). Initially scheduled for distribution at the end of the first quarter, this assistance will now be expedited to early 2025.

Additionally, Non-Cash Food Assistance (Sembako) will be distributed monthly to 18.8 million KPMs, with the first round of aid set for early 2025.

Starting in 2025, Kemensos will also provide free nutritious meals for 36,000 individuals with disabilities and 101,000 elderly citizens.

The nutritious meal program for the disabled and the elderly will be implemented in collaboration with community groups at the local level, thus supporting regional economic growth.

In line with the Prabowo-Gibran administration's focus on social welfare, 270,000 orphans will also receive monthly allowances.

Beyond direct social assistance, the anticipated 12% VAT increase will be accompanied by empowerment programs aimed at boosting incomes for low-income households. This includes providing business capital assistance for PKH graduates—beneficiaries who are no longer eligible for government aid. "Minister Gus Yusuf (Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf) has set a target of assisting 480,000 PKH graduates," Andy added.

These Kemensos programs will be distributed based on the Unified Social Welfare Database, an improved version of the previous Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS).

Andy emphasized that these initiatives are expected to serve as strategic measures to support the Prabowo-Gibran administration in achieving its poverty reduction targets.