Data Check: Anies Says He Will Increase Social Assistance, How Much is the Social Assistance Budget Year by Year?

Presidential candidate (capres) number 1, Anies Baswedan, stated that he will increase the budget for social assistance (bansos).

He made this statement during the fifth Presidential Election 2024 debate themed Social Welfare, Culture, Education, Information Technology, Health, Employment, Human Resources, and Inclusion at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) on Sunday (4/2/2024).

Responding to a question from capres number 3, Ganjar Pranowo, regarding the management of bansos to ensure they reach the intended recipients, he said that the distribution of bansos must be ensured to reach poor and near-poor communities. "They must not be missed, so we are developing bansos plus as part of the changes," he said.

In bansos plus, Anies continued, the amount will be increased. In addition, recipients will also receive training and mentoring so that they can gradually become independent and live prosperously.

Based on data from the Ministry of Finance, the government has disbursed at least Rp 1,275 trillion from the State Budget (APBN) for various bansos programs since 2013. The largest social assistance budget was disbursed in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, amounting to Rp 202.5 trillion.

For information, social assistance funds are included in the non-contributory social protection fund scheme. Several social assistance programs include the Family Hope Program (PKH), the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP), the Rice for Prosperous Families Program (Rastra), the Non-Cash Food Assistance Program (BPNT), and the Direct Cash Assistance (BLT).