Indonesia Launches Digital social Aid Program with Poverty Reduction Goals
Indonesia is rolling out a digitized social assistance (bansos) program, beginning in Banyuwangi, East Java in September 2025, with plans for nationwide expansion. The initiative, spearheaded by the Commitee for Acceleration of Digital Change, aims to improve the accuracy, transparency, and accountability of aid disbursement.
Individuals can register for the program, known as perlinsos, thru Identity Card Digitalization (IKD) authentication via a digital portal. For those without mobile phones,biometric or facial recognition will be available through field officers. according to Tubagus Nugraha, Executive Director for Policy Synchronization of DEN‘s Priority Economic Programs, applications will be automatically processed using integrated data from multiple sources, including Payment ID, through the Government Service Connection System (SPLP).
DEN expert Rahmat Danu Andika emphasized that the biometric authentication option ensures accessibility for all potential beneficiaries, even those without smartphones. The goal is to facilitate safe and integrated access to government digital services,as stated by Nugraha.
Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan,Chair of DEN,previously projected that the digitalization of social aid could lift 34 million indonesians out of poverty during President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. This projection is based on the expectation of a important reduction in the poverty rate if the program is successful.
Though, current data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) indicates a different baseline. As of March 2025, BPS reported 23.85 million people living in poverty in Indonesia – a figure lower than DEN’s projected reduction.
The digital system will verify data across various institutions, including BPJS Health, BPJS Employment, BI-Himbara, ATR/BPN, and Samsat, to minimize inclusion and exclusion errors. Beneficiaries will also be able to independently verify their digital identities through the application.
This digitalization of bansos is one of three key agendas for the committee, alongside the digitalization of buisness permits and improvements to Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) integration.
This article incorporates reporting from Antara news agency.
