Gus Ipul: Social Assistance Recipient Data Must Be Continuously Updated

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf has revealed that data on social assistance recipients is dynamic and subject to constant change. He stated that continuous data updates are necessary to prevent the same person from being a social assistance recipient for 15 years.

“Do not misunderstand the data. Data changes from morning to evening because people pass away, are born, marry, relocate, move up or down in economic status. Our data is constantly dynamic, so social assistance recipients change accordingly,” said the minister, commonly known as Gus Ipul, at the Inspirasi Bulan Suci (Holy Month Inspiration) event by detikcom, reported on Monday (9 March 2026).

Gus Ipul noted that social assistance is distributed every three months. According to him, it is possible that residents initially recorded as recipients may no longer be listed, or vice versa, because the Ministry of Social Affairs continuously updates data to prevent the same person from being registered as a recipient for years on end.

“We distribute social assistance every three months, so there is an opportunity that in the first quarter one receives it, in the second quarter one does not, possibly in the fourth quarter one also does not. Why? Perhaps because someone passed away, or for some other reason, or they have moved up or down economically, and thus may become eligible again, so it is dynamic,” he said.

“Therefore it cannot work as it used to where someone would receive full annual social assistance; now it may change. We used to have people in our data who continuously received social assistance for fifteen years, which is demoralising—fifteen years of receiving assistance. Some received it for ten years continuously with no data updates, which was also demoralising, causing them to simply accept the assistance rather than improve their situation,” he added.

Furthermore, Gus Ipul also disclosed President Prabowo’s directive regarding working-age social assistance recipients. According to him, working-age recipients of social assistance must be able to become more independent families within a maximum of five years after becoming recipients.

“This is what is special about President Prabowo’s direction—there must be empowerment; assistance recipients cannot simply receive handouts, especially those of working age. Working-age recipients must, within a maximum of five years, become more independent families,” he said.

He cited the example of data on Assistance Contribution Recipients (PBI) for the National Health Insurance (BPJS Kesehatan) scheme, which must be continuously updated. According to him, beneficiary data must be regularly refreshed to ensure accurate targeting.

“The issue now is who receives the assistance? Are they truly eligible, or are they actually ineligible? That is why we conduct updates. For PBI, we update monthly, every single month. However, those who are deactivated can be reactivated. Many people who have been deactivated have been reactivated and re-registered,” said Gus Ipul.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Social Affairs has now opened a reporting channel where the public can lodge objections or propose themselves if they are not yet listed as social assistance recipients. This is because there are still many cases of people who should be registered as recipients but are not, and vice versa.

As a result, Gus Ipul has invited all parties—including civil servants, village officials, regional heads, and the public—to help improve social assistance data. He stated that the Ministry of Social Affairs has opened the Check Bansos application channel and a command centre so the public can lodge objections and proposals if they believe they are eligible as assistance recipients.

“Everyone can participate, whoever we are can participate, especially journalists, especially village heads, especially civil servants or ASN—anyone can. Why? Because according to President’s directive we are opening many channels so that all complaints, all aspirations, all proposals, and all objections from the public can be accommodated, processed, and result in accurate data,” he said.

“The channels are via the Check Bansos application, the Command Centre 021 171, and now we have added the Lapor Bansos WhatsApp at 08877171171,” said Gus Ipul.

He stated that through the Lapor Bansos application, the public can propose or object to beneficiaries. For example, if they believe they are eligible to receive social assistance, the public can attach evidence they possess, which will then be verified and validated within a maximum of three months, after which it will be considered whether they are eligible to become a recipient or not.

“Exclusion error is when someone who should receive assistance as a beneficiary does not receive it. Inclusion error is when someone who should not receive assistance does receive it. These are what we are reducing. Are there still errors now? Yes. Are there still many? Yes, but if we are open, with mechanisms in place and facts presented, God willing, the errors will decrease day by day,” he said.