Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs announced on Wednesday that 132,272 families receiving government social assistance had graduated from poverty in the third quarter of 2026.
Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said the figure includes beneficiaries of the Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT/Sembako) and the Family Hope Programme (PKH).
“A total of 132,272 beneficiary families have moved up economically and graduated from social assistance,” Yusuf said.
The total comprised of 81,000 families receiving BPNT/Sembako benefits and 51,272 families enrolled in PKH that were now considered economically independent, he mentioned.
The Ministry stated the graduations were based on quarterly updates to beneficiary data compiled by Statistics Indonesia (BPS).
The data, received on the 10th day of each disbursement month, is further verified by officials from both BPS and the Ministry of Social Affairs to ensure that government socio-economic assistance reaches eligible recipients.
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The review process allows authorities to monitor changes in recipients’ economic conditions and identify households whose welfare has improved.
The latest quarterly BPS data update also recorded millions of beneficiary families whose economic decile improved, as well as hundreds of families who voluntarily withdrew from social assistance.
A total of 1,665 BPNT beneficiary families voluntarily exited the programme, while social assistance for 1,641,090 beneficiary families was reallocated.
“Why was the assistance reallocated? First, because their economic decile improved, and second, because they no longer met the eligibility criteria for beneficiary families. This growing public awareness deserves appreciation,” Yusuf said.
The increase in families graduating from social assistance and voluntarily leaving the programmes reflected improvements in beneficiary data management under the National Integrated Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN) system, which the government is currently strengthening.
Yusuf expressed hope the improved targeting would contribute to the government’s broader goal of achieving sustainable poverty reduction.
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Translator: Riezko Bima, Kuntum Khaira
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
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