Indonesian Government Enhances Social Assistance Programs for 2026

Improved Targeting through National Socio-Economic Data

The Indonesian government is implementing a more targeted approach to social assistance programs in 2026, utilizing the Data Tunggal Sosial Ekonomi Nasional (DTSEN) to identify eligible recipients more accurately ³

. This database classifies households into economic deciles, focusing assistance on the lowest income groups, particularly deciles 1 through 5.

Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) Distribution Schedule

The PKH program, a regular social assistance initiative, will be distributed in four quarterly installments throughout 2026 ¹

:

1. First quarter: January-March 2026
2. Second quarter: April-June 2026
3. Third quarter: July-September 2026
4. Fourth quarter: October-December 2026

Financial Preparedness for State Expenditure

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed that the government has sufficient funds for state expenditure in early 2026, with approximately Rp 399 trillion available as of end-2025 ²

⁵

Source 5

https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8288667/bansos-beras-lanjut-tahun-ini-720-000-ton-diguyur-ke-18-juta-penerima

. A significant portion of these funds has been placed with Bank Indonesia (BI) in preparation for January 2026 expenditures. The minister emphasized that if the funds remain surplus, they will be placed in banks, which currently maintain adequate liquidity due to synchronized government and BI policies.

Expanded Social Assistance Programs

In addition to PKH, the government will continue other social assistance programs, including:

1. Rice assistance: 720,000 tons of rice to be distributed to 18 million recipients through Perum Bulog ⁴
   Source 4

   https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8288865/dana-desa-2026-dipakai-buat-blt-hingga-koperasi-merah-putih
2. Village Fund allocation: Focus on poverty reduction through Bantuan Langsung Tunai (BLT) and climate resilience initiatives ⁴
   Source 4

   https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8288865/dana-desa-2026-dipakai-buat-blt-hingga-koperasi-merah-putih

Implementation Strategy

The government has implemented stricter criteria for social assistance distribution using the DTSEN database to ensure precise targeting of beneficiaries. This approach aims to minimize overlap in assistance recipients and maximize the impact on the most vulnerable populations.