Government Increases Social Assistance Budget During Emergency PPKM

The government has increased the social protection budget (perlinsos) to assist the public during the Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM). Based on data from the Ministry of Finance, this additional budget includes Rp 7.52 trillion for the staple food card program, increasing the total to Rp 49.89 trillion.

This additional budget will benefit 18.8 million families. Each family will receive Rp 200,000 per month for 14 months until August 2021.

The government also added Rp 6.14 trillion to the cash social assistance (BST) budget. This brings the total BST budget to Rp 17.46 trillion and will be distributed to 10 million families for six months from January to June 2021.

Furthermore, the government increased the electricity discount budget by Rp 1.91 trillion, bringing the total to Rp 9.49 trillion. This program is intended for 32.6 million subscribers until December 2021.

The budget for minimum account balance assistance and subscription fees was increased by Rp 0.42 trillion, reaching Rp 2.11 trillion. This program will benefit 1.14 million subscribers until December 2021.

The budget for the pre-employment card program and wage subsidy was increased by Rp 10 trillion, bringing the total to Rp 30 trillion. The pre-employment card will be given to 5.6 million participants, particularly workers who have experienced termination of employment (PHK).

The wage subsidy will be provided to 8.8 million workers in non-critical sectors. The assistance will be given for two months, with Rp 500,000 per month.

The government also increased the internet quota assistance budget by Rp 5.54 trillion, bringing the total to Rp 8.54 trillion. This assistance will be provided to 38.1 million students for eight months.

In addition, the government will provide PPKM staple food cards with a total budget of Rp 7.08 trillion. 5.9 million families will receive staple food packages worth Rp 200,000 per month from July to December 2021 through this program.

The government also added a rice assistance program using Bulog's rice stock with a total budget of Rp 3.58 trillion. 28.8 million recipient families of social assistance and staple food cards will receive 10 kilograms of rice per family through this program.

The government did not increase the budget for the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Village Cash Assistance (BLT Desa). Therefore, the PKH budget remains at Rp 28.31 trillion, while the BLT Desa budget remains at Rp 28.8 trillion.