Electricity Discounts, the Most Widely Received Government Social Assistance by Poor Families

A survey by the Institute for Demographic and Poverty Studies (IDEAS) shows that 52% of respondents, who are poor families, received government social assistance in the form of electricity discounts. This percentage is the highest among other types of social assistance.

Other social assistance frequently received by respondents includes the Family Hope Program (PKH) at 36.1%. Furthermore, 22.9% of respondents received the Sembako Card, and 12.8% received cash social assistance.

Meanwhile, a smaller percentage of respondents received other types of social assistance. 3.3% of respondents received UMKM (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) direct cash assistance (BLT), while 2.1% received assistance through the Kartu Prakerja (Pre-Employment Card) program.

According to IDEAS, electricity discounts, which have the widest coverage, should have been maintained during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. However, this social assistance was stopped in the second half of 2021, while the Kartu Prakerja program, which has lower coverage, was continued.

This survey involved 1,013 poor families, with 615 families receiving government social assistance. The survey was conducted in Jabodetabek, Semarang Raya, Surabaya Raya, Medan Raya, and Makassar Raya from January to February 2021.